Step 1 Toward More Police

Is anybody safe? Is anywhere safe? Personal safety is on the minds of many who were shocked by the kidnaping and murder of Polly Klaas, the lethal rampage on the Long Island Rail Road, the San Fernando Valley child molester and this week’s shooting at Chatsworth High School.

As fear of crime moves to the top of the political agenda, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan continues to make good on his promise to increase the Police Department. Riordan’s ultimate goal is to boost the police presence on the streets by nearly 50% in this sorely underpoliced city. He and Chief Willie L. Williams have devised a five-year plan that starts by increasing patrols through overtime work.

The big problem, as usual, is money. City budget constraints prevent a major new investment, even for a need as urgent as placing more officers on patrol. In addition, labor issues threaten any deal that would hire rookies at the expense of veteran officers who have worked for nearly two years without a pay raise. But Riordan is proving that where there’s a will, there’s a way.

The City Council has unanimously approved the first phase of Riordan’s plan, giving the LAPD nearly two-thirds of the roughly $26 million needed for more overtime. Much of that money came from savings earned by the Police Department when the force fell below its authorized strength of 7,900. The remainder of the money will come from city reserves and the half-cent sales tax, earmarked for public safety, that voters approved in November.

In anticipation of the City Council’s approval, Williams deployed extra foot patrols in all 18 LAPD regions. Still more patrols are expected next week in high-crime areas. The presence of those officers should prove reassuring, but many more will be required. The Police Department needs 10,000 or more officers to adequately cover this huge and sprawling city. Mayor Riordan is appealing to Washington and seeking funds wherever else he can to meet that goal.

More police officers alone are not the answer to crime, of course, but without a large LAPD force deployed on the streets, it is hard to imagine a safer city. The mayor’s priority program has the city’s support.