Residents Protest Loss of Drug Patrol
More than 100 Pacoima residents holding candles and chanting “bring back our police” marched in front of police headquarters in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night to protest the removal of a neighborhood anti-drug patrol.
Members of the Mercer-Haddon Homeowners Assn. demonstrated in front of Parker Center about 7 p.m. to plead for the return of a nightly foot patrol aimed at cracking down on drug dealers in the northeastern San Fernando Valley, Pacoima resident Irene Tovar said.
The unit, called RECON, for Rapid Enforcement Centered on Narcotics, was formed in March, 1988, by the Foothill Division but was disbanded in July because of a shortage of officers, Sgt. Arthur Madrid said.
“Basically, this is a matter of not enough manpower to continue the program,” Madrid said. “There are too many places the officers are needed right now.”
Madrid said the officers were going to be reassigned to their regular beats.
Daily patrols of the area will continue.
Tovar said the group also demonstrated in front of the Foothill Division on Saturday and that members plan to speak at a Police Commission meeting today.
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