West LA LAPD Station may reduce desk service hours in order to increase patrol response

LAPD plans to implement area station desk closures in order to increase patrol response.  

In February, 2017, Public Safety Committee discussed several topics with direction for the Department to report back on redeploying o or personnel from less essential functions to patrol.

Currently, all 21 geographic areas station staff their desks 24 hours, 7 days per week.

The Department has identified a plan to achieve the City Council’s goal to have more patrol officers in the field by the closing 16 of the 21 geographic area front desk operations between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.  This would include the four Traffic Division desks.

The decrease in desk service during the late evening-early morning hours when walk-in traffic is at its lowest would result in desk staffing reduction of three officers per area/division, or a total of 48 additional officers that would be available for patrol response needs.  These officers would be deployed to their current area of assignment. The Department is working on telephone installation and signage posting  similar to what is in place at fire stations.

Research indicates that most other law enforcement agencies in the region do not operate 24 hour desk operations and that th reduced desk operation hours has not negatively impacted their delivery of service to their constituents and has provided flexibility in their efforts to bolster patrol resources.

Areas that would NOT be impacted are Van Nuys, Pacific, Seventy-Seventh, Hollywood and Central. These Areas must remain open due to jail operations, with the exception of Central Area which has significant walk-in traffic.

Preliminary closures may begin as soon as mid-September.