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Council approves committee plan to speed LAPD recruitment and processing
Summary
The council approved a joint Budget & Finance and Public Safety committee report recommending reorganized recruitment and background processes intended to increase the number of LAPD candidates admitted to training.
The Los Angeles City Council approved a committee report and plan aimed at increasing Los Angeles Police Department recruitment and speeding the hiring pipeline.
Councilmembers said the report, put together by personnel and police department staff, is a coordinated effort to reorganize recruiting and reduce processing delays. A councilmember described the document as “a comprehensive report... prepared by the LA Police Department [and] the city's personnel department” and said the plan represents a unanimous recommendation from both committees.
Rhonda Sims Lewis, representing the Personnel Department, told the council the department was ready to put staff in place and that cooperation with LAPD should allow the city to move “to put the officers on the street right away.” LAPD representatives said the departments had reorganized some staff and co-located teams to reduce file transfers and other administrative drag.
Committee and department speakers said the plan includes case managers and expediters for recruits, monthly reporting to the committees, additional advertising and outreach, and a reorganization of the selection process. LAPD staff estimated they would test roughly 1,100 to 1,200 candidates per month and that could eventually yield up to about 100 recruits entering training each month; the most recent class had 43 recruits.
Councilmembers asked detailed questions about background checks, polygraph backlog and screening, outreach to women and LGBTQ+ applicants, and how the city would measure success over a one-year trial. Staff said the polygraph process and background investigations remain points of focus and would continue to be studied and adjusted where possible.
The committee report was moved by Councilmember Sekowsky and approved by roll call (11 ayes). Councilmembers said the council and the committees will maintain monthly oversight and receive progress reports.
