With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
LA City's Proposed Deal With LAPD Union Includes 11% Pay Hike For Rookies
The LAPD officers’ union and city have agreed on a new tentative labor contract that includes an 11% increase to the base starting salary for new recruits. City and department officials say that boost in pay is needed to address what they’re calling a crisis in recruiting.
Where things stand
The number of sworn LAPD officers has dropped by more than 1,000 in just the past three years, putting the department’s ranks at about 9,000, according to LAPD officials.
Currently, a new recruit starts at $74,019. After 18 months of academy and field training, their salary automatically goes up to $83,687. The new starting salary would be $82,161.
By comparison, the starting salary for a social worker for the city of Los Angeles, as of January, is just over $65,000 a year, according to city documentation.
What’s in the deal for veteran officers
The deal covers four years and includes a 6% raise for all officers in the first year, a 4% raise the second year, and 5% raises the following two years.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement that the increases are consistent with goals she’s laid out to date.
“Like many major cities across America, our police department is enduring a hiring and retention crisis so we are taking critical action,” Bass said. “In April, I proposed a budget to address concerns within the Los Angeles Police Department and to provide investments to hire more police officers, expedite the hiring process, and improve retention.”
Support and pushback
The union representing the officers, Los Angeles Police Protective League, put out a statement in favor of the proposed new contract:
“We believe this tentative agreement will put the LAPD on the right path forward retaining our experienced officers and supervisors and recruiting qualified cadets to enter our academy,” said Sgt. Jerretta Sandoz, the LAPPL vice president.
Longstanding critics of the police pushed back on the deal. The increases are “absolutely ridiculous” given the “hugely problematic” way the LAPD polices Black people in the city, said Melina Abdullah, the leader of the Los Angeles Chapter of Black Lives Matter. The city should instead be investing in the housing crisis and afterschool programs, she said.
What’s going on with police recruiting
There are several reasons for the recruitment problems in policing, according to the International Association of Chiefs of Police. In a recent report, the group said millennials and Generation Z “are more apt to value work-life balance than their Baby Boomer counterparts” and that the demands of policing are less appealing.
That report also cited the declining public image of the law enforcement profession.
“Scrutiny of the police, cellphone recordings of interactions between the police and public, media coverage, and popular entertainment portrayals of police have led many young people to view police differently than their parents may have,” the report stated.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
-
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails.
-
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight.
-
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious.
-
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress.
-
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.