LAPD Chief Michel Moore pushes back after City Council votes to consider possible police layoffs
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted to move forward with a set of recommendations to try to pull Los Angeles out of a potential $675-million budget shortfall this year, and layoffs of police personnel and other city employees are still on the table.
The possibility of LAPD layoffs prompted immediate pushback from Chief Michel Moore, who told the Police Commission that a hiring freeze has already hampered his department and laying off officers would be devastating.
The council's Budget and Finance Committee on Monday voted to consider the prospect of laying off about 1,900 city employees -- most from the Los Angeles Police Department.
The layoffs were part of a proposal from City Administrative Officer Richard Llewellyn's second fiscal status report for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
LAPD reassigning more than 200 officers, closing special units to meet budget cuts
The committee voted to reduce the recommended LAPD layoffs by about two-thirds, with a proposal to cut 355 sworn officers and 273 civilian employees, although those haven't been approved yet.
Llewellyn's financial report also recommends layoffs affecting 143 positions in the City Attorney's Office, 45 in the Animal Services Department and 27 in the Bureau of Engineering.
During an online meeting, Moore told the Police Commission it is important to keep academy candidates coming in to replace needed officers.
"This is not saber-rattling, looking at staffing levels (of what) a hiring freeze alone would do,'' Moore said. "All operations will be shuttered in the Harbor Jail, in the Pacific Jail in the Hollywood yard. These are jails that are (local) ... that allow officers to book, process and release individuals locally, rather than at our three regional jails.''
