Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council backs effort to let federal COPS grants be used to hire supervisory officers
Summary
The council voted to support city efforts to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Justice so COPS program funds could be used to hire supervisory staff (sergeants/lieutenants) rather than only entry-level recruits; the mayor had already sent a similar letter and the council action places the body on record in support.
The Los Angeles City Council on March 15 voted to support a federal-waiver request that would allow the city to use some COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grant funds for supervisory positions rather than restricting the money to entry-level officers.
Councilmember Feuer introduced the motion and Councilmember Padilla reported he had personally delivered a letter from the mayor to the COPS program director in Washington. Padilla said the department had been "open and positive" in initial discussions about the request. The motion records the council’s desire to press the Department of Justice for flexibility so that the city can increase the number of supervisors in the field.
The council approved the action (recorded as 10 ayes) and directed the appropriate city offices to continue working with federal officials and congressional representatives to pursue any statutory or administrative changes required to implement the waiver.
Councilmembers emphasized the request is intended to strengthen on-the-ground supervision in policing and respond to concerns raised in recent oversight work, while acknowledging DOJ approval and any congressional action would be required for a change in program rules.
