LBPD does still have a "gang unit" and it does important things but it's not routinely deployed in the field. LBPD's current gang unit investigates gang-related shootings, pursues leads, makes arrests, provides testimony, but the former field component -- 22 sworn officers -- was erased and hasn't been restored for taxpayers (despite the June 2016 Measure A sales tax increase now bringing City Hall an estimated $50+ million per year.)

So...whose actions erased LBPD's field anti-gang unit? Who's keeping it that way now? LBREPORT.com opens our Amnesia File below.

[Scroll down for further.]

Aug. 2012: Mayor Bob Foster recommends a city management proposed FY13 budget that proposes to entirely eliminate LBPD's field anti-gang comprised of 20 officers + 2 sergeants.

Aug. 2012: The Council's Public Safety Committee, chaired by then-Vice Mayor Robert Garcia (chosen by Mayor Foster) holds no meetings to address the public safety impacts (police or fire) of Mayor Foster's recommended FY13 budget.

Aug. 2012: The Council's Budget Oversight Committee (chair DeLong) recommends (on motion by DeLong and Lowenthal) a roughly $1 million increase to the LBPD budget sum recommended by Mayor Foster.

Sept. 2012: Councilman Patrick O'Donnell makes a Council floor motion, approved without dissent, to budget roughly $1 million more beyond what the Budget Oversight Committee recommended and give the Police Chief discretion to fund up to half of the former anti-gang field unit (10 officers plus one sergeant) for one year using "one time" money. The City Council approves this.

Sponsor

Sponsor

Aug. 2013: Mayor Foster recommends a FY14 budget (the final one to be enacted in his term of which he says is "most proud.") It includes no sums to replace the expiring "one time funds" approved by the Council in Sept. 2012 that kept up to half of the field anti-gang unit afloat for one year.

Aug. 2013: The Council's Budget Oversight Committee learns through chair DeLong's persistent questioning that LBPD's field anti-gang unit has shrunk to only roughly 7 sworn officers through exits/attrition.

Aug. 2013: The Council's Public Safety Committee, chaired by Vice Mayor Garcia, holds no meetings to address the public safety impacts, police or fire, of Mayor Foster's recommended FY14 budget.

September 2013: Some taxpayers take the time and effort to speak at Council budget hearings and urged restoration of LBPD's field anti-gang unit. They include veteran NLB community advocate Laurie Angel. To hear Ms. Angel's 2013 words, click here. No LB business or neighborhood group publicly calls for restoring the field anti-gang unit. The City Council enacts a FY14 budget without funding to restore LBPD's anti-gang field unit.

Sponsor

Feb. 2014: Mayor Foster endorses Vice Mayor Garcia for Mayor. The Long Beach Police Officers Ass'n PAC also endorses Garcia for Mayor (and endorses Council candidates Gonzalez, Price, Uranga and Richardson.)

July 2014: In an unusual move just weeks before leaving City Hall, outgoing Mayor Foster makes an early budget recommendation for FY15 -- which will be enacted after he's gone -- that includes no funding for a field anti-gang unit.

August 2014: Incoming Mayor Garcia recommends a FY15 budget with no funding for a field anti-gang unit.

August 2014: The Council's newly constituted Public Safety Committee (chaired by Councilwoman Price, named by Mayor Garcia) holds no meetings on the Foster/Garcia recommended FY15 budget's public safety impacts and doesn't address restoring LBPD's anti-gang field unit.

Sept. 2014: The Council (including the new Councilmembers endorsed by the LB Police Officers Ass'n) adopts a FY15 budget without funding for an LBPD field anti-gang unit.

Aug. 2015: Mayor Garcia proposes a FY16 budget without a field anti-gang unit.

Sept. 2015 Council approves FY16 budget without a field anti-gang unit.

Sponsor

Sponsor

June 2016: Voters approve Mayor/Council sought Measure A sales tax increase following a campaign by a Garcia-run political committee whose single largest contributor is the LB Police Officers Ass'n PAC.

August 2016: Mayor Garcia proposes a FY17 that recommends restoring 8 citywide deployable officers (out of 208 he voted to erase as a Councilmember) and includes no funding to restore the former 22-member field anti-gang unit.

February 2017: Vice Mayor Rex Richardson, after seeking and obtaining fiscal clearance from city management, makes a floor motion to restore Paramedic Rescue 12 and restore 9 additional officers (at Police Chief's recommendation to avoid continuing to draw officers out of patrol assignments to handle Police Academy needs.) The motion carries, restoring a total of 17 citywide deployable officers (out of 208 erased) but with no field anti-gang unit.

August 2017: Mayor Garcia proposes FY18 budget without restoring additional citywide deployable officers.

Sept. 2017: The City Council approves FY18 budget with no restorations of additional citywide deployable officers

July 31, 2018: Mayor Garcia recommends adding a 6-officer citywide-deployable bike patrol unit to a FY19 management recommended budget that proposed to reduce one citywide deployable officer (by reassigning the officer to Airport-contracted duties.)

Sept. 2018: The Council approves the Mayor's recommendation for a 6-officer bike unit within the FY19 management proposed budget (with one citywide officer reduced), restoring an additional 5 citywide deployable officers for a total of 22 restored (out of 208 erased)...but with no restoration of LBPD's field anti-gang unit.

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