Los Angeles: As part of his ongoing commitment to prioritize the Department’s core function, patrol, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck announced that on March 28, 2010, an additional 176 sworn personnel will be reassigned to Area commands.
Chief of Police Charlie Beck said, "I am extremely proud of the work that these men and women have been doing in their previous assignments; however, the critical staffing needs at the Area level must remain my top priority." He added, "Area captains must be properly resourced and then held accountable for crime reduction. When this second wave takes effect, I will have redeployed well over 300 experienced officers from specialized assignments to Area commands."
In early January, Chief Beck disbanded the Crime Reduction and Enforcement of Warrants or "CREW" Task Force, accounting for 138 sworn personnel returned to patrol duties at that time.
Commander Jorge Villegas, who administers the deployment formula for the Department said, "All of the 176 sworn personnel to be redeployed in this second wave are currently assigned to specialized divisions within the Office of Special Operations. Because they are the two largest of the ten specialized divisions affected, Metropolitan Division and Gang and Narcotic Division will account for nearly half of the 176 sworn personnel to be returned to Area commands."
Commander Villegas added, "Even in better budgetary times, deployment of officers is a never ending process. At least four times a year, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation of police deployment Citywide and other adjustments can happen as frequently as every 28 days." In deciding where the redeployed officers should be assigned, Chief Beck acts on recommendations which are based on actual crime statistics and seasonal crime trends.
As a result of the second redeployment, Operations-Central Bureau will gain an additional 40 sworn personnel; Operations-South Bureau will gain an additional 50 sworn personnel; Operations-West Bureau will gain an additional 37 sworn personnel; and Operations-Valley Bureau will gain and additional 49 sworn personnel.
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