Greetings from the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. The following is the monthly update for June 2006. We hope you find the information useful. You are encouraged to continue to visit our website at www.lapdonline.org as it has recently been redesigned and updated. CHIEF’S MESSAGE In America’s second-largest city, the Department’s dedication to public safety must be a commitment second to none. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s 6.7 billion-dollar budget for the City of Los Angeles, unveiled in April, reflects this priority. With its emphasis on expanding the Department, the proposed 2006/2007 fiscal plan would allocate funds to begin the expansion of the Department by 1,000 additional police officers, purchase state-of-the-art police equipment, technology improvements, and communication enhancements. Planned funding would come from an increase in the City’s trash collection fees, currently one of the lowest in the county. The 1,000-officer build-up begins with the hiring of 650 new officers, to replace retiring officers, for fiscal year 2006/2007. This sets in motion a five-year hiring plan to reach the Mayor’s goal of 1,000 additional officers. Recognizing the correlation between state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and safe and effective policing, $31 million has been budgeted to continue the Department’s vehicle replacement program, and $5.2 million to replace two helicopters. Two other replacement helicopters are scheduled to be delivered later this year. The budget also includes $4.4 million for standard technology replacement and to provide field officers with immediate access to other agency databases using wireless data cards. Additionally, $5 million has been allocated from the year-end 2005/2006 budget to begin the replacement of police portable radios over the next several years. I believe one of the most important allocations in the Mayor’s budget, and a clear testament to his commitment of support for the men and women of this Department, is the funding he has earmarked for the installation of video cameras in patrol cars. Using money proposed in the 2006/2007 budget, there would be enough funding to install in-car camera systems in four geographic Areas next year. The Cameras will, in effect, improve accountability, ensure the highest levels of officer integrity and provide concrete evidence for investigations into alleged misconduct. These video cameras will be an officer’s strongest ally against false or erroneous complaints. You have often heard me say, “you can expect what you inspect.” To that end, and to continue our policy of transparency and accountability, the budget provides more funding for the Office of the Inspector General and the Civil Rights Integrity, Audit and Force Investigation Divisions. In addition to increased funding as a means to expand the Department’s ranks, the command staff and I are always looking for innovative ways to maximize the limited resources we have. One new program with a mission to reduce crime and improve relations with our communities, is the recruit footbeats. Recent media reports prove the program is working; crime is down in the areas where the recruits walk and those who live and work in the city now feel they have a better relationship with the LAPD. The program also benefits the recruits by giving them hands-on experience and face-to-face contact with residents and business owners in community policing. This kind of innovative thinking and intelligent deployment continues to help in driving down crime in Los Angeles, and reducing fear. In the future, we will see even more positive results as we hire more officers and step up police presence on our City streets. Through improved technology, increased staffing and creative use of resources we continue to prove crime can be driven down even more. During this next fiscal year, the budget will finally give us more of the tools we need to reach the tipping point and make Los Angeles the safest big city in America. I have no doubt that the men and women of this Department, given the proper resources and support, will seize the opportunity. CRIME STATISTICS - CITY-WIDE Year to Date as of May 27, 2006 Homicide Down -10.3% Rape No Change 0.0% Robbery Up 7.3% Aggravated Assault Down -12.0% --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL VIOLENT CRIMES Down -3.3% Burglary Down -8.7% Burglary/Theft from Vehicle Down -13.7% Personal/Other Theft Down -16.5% Auto Theft Down -10.8% --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL PROPERTY CRIMES Down -12.9% TOTAL PART 1 CRIMES Down -10.9% WILLIAM J. BRATTON Chief of Police To unsubscribe from this newsletter please click on this link http://listserv.lacity.org/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=lapd_monthly&A=1