"Defund" LBPD Officers Along Metro A-Line (Blue Line)? Metro Board -- With LB Mayor Garcia As A Member -- Could Vote Today To Pursue A Process To Shift Resources Away From Armed Law Enforcement
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(June 25, 2020, 7:10 a.m.) -- Later today (June 25), the L.A. County Metropolitan Transpiration Authority (Metro) governing board -- which includes LB Mayor Robert Garcia -- will consider an item whose co-agendixers include LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, LA Councilman Mike Bonin and LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn that would direct Metro management to "develop a community-based approach to public safety on the transit system" with measures that include "alternatives to armed law enforcement response to nonviolent crimes and code of conduct violations" and "a shift of resources from armed law enforcement."
To date, Mayor Garcia hasn't taken a publicly stated stance on calls by some to "defund" (reduce funding) for police in Long Beach. Although he has no decision-making vote in Long Beach, he does have a decision-making Metro Board vote on this item.
LBPD currently has a contract with Metro (into 2022) in which Metro pays LBPD to deploy LBPD officers along Metro's A Line (Blue Line) route through Long Beach. (LAPD handles the rest of Metro's line into L.A. through a separate contract with Metro) LBPD management has said the Metro deployed officers don't thin LB neighborhood-available officers because LBPD provides the Mtero-contracted officers using overtime.)
The agenda item asks Metro management to report back to a Metro committee within 90 day, and quarterly thereafter "until the 2022 contract renewal."
....Community leaders are demanding a shift in how agencies deliver public safety at every level of government. This includes reforming police practices as well as reallocating resources typically devoted to policing to other forms of community safety. In a transit environment, safety is typically provided through design, staff presence, aid station access, and law enforcement. Given recent
events, it is prudent for Metro to reevaluate its safety strategies to ensure it is meeting the needs and expectations of our riders. Metro should work in partnership with community leaders to re-envision transit safety and community-based approaches to policing leading up to and as part of the 2022 renewal of the multiagency police contract.
APPROVE Motion by Directors Bonin, Garcetti, Hahn, Dupont-Walker, and Solis that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to:
A.. Establish a Transit Public Safety Advisory Committee. This committee should incorporate the existing Community Safety & Security Working Group and include additional perspectives that represent Metro’s ridership and advocacy organizations, including but not limited to racial, cultural, gender, income, geography, immigration status, and housing status.
B. In partnership with the Advisory Committee, Office of Civil Rights, Executive Officer for Equity & Race, and Executive Officer for Customer Experience, develop a community-based approach to public safety on the transit system, including but not limited to:
1. A transit ambassador program that provides staffed presence at Metro facilities and on Metro vehicles.
2. Alternatives to armed law enforcement response to nonviolent crimes and code of conduct violations.
3. Greater community stewardship of transit spaces, such as supporting street vending in transit plazas.
4. The Universal Blue Light program proposed in Metro’s June 2018 ridership initiatives (BF 2018-0365).
5. Education about and expansion of fare discount programs.
6. Outreach and services for unhoused individuals.
7. A shift of resources from armed law enforcement to the above strategies.
C. Consult with the Advisory Committee when developing the new scope of services, budget, and other provisions of the multiagency police contract renewal.
D. Report back to the Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience Committee in 90 days, and quarterly thereafter until the 2022 contract renewal. In the final quarterly report of 2022, include an external, third-party evaluation of the effectiveness of the Advisory Committee and a recommendation on whether it should continue.
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Amnesia File
On March 7, 2017, the LB City Council voted 9-0 to approve entering into a five year contract with Metro to provide police services on Metro Blue Line trains/eight stations in Long Beach. During the Council item, Mayor Robert Garcia repeatedly stated that the transaction will "add" 30 police officers to the Long Beach Police Department...although LBPD management told LBREPORT.com that it plans to use overtime from current officers initially to produce 30 "full time equivalents" to cover the newly contracted Metro shifts.
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At a November 17, 2016 Metro Committee meeting, and at a December 1 Metro Board meeting Metro staff recommended using LBPD and LAPD officers to replace previous LASD deputies along the route.)
LB Councilmembers universally praised Mayor Garcia for the contract, which Metro staff recommended to increase actual and perceived security (and acknowledged it will also save Metro money). Metro's Board approved the agreement on Feb. 23, 2017 with Mayor Garcia as a Boardmember.
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A year later, LBPD issued a release at this link
indicating that in its first year, the LBPD Metro deployed officers had "reduced Part 1 crime by 50% and Part 2 crime by 80% within the eight station platforms and trains that fall under the City’s jurisdiction." It added that "the presence of officers in and around the platforms has reduced assaults against train operators by 30%, and achieved an average Priority 1 response time of 2.38 minutes."
Developing.
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