The largest employee union of the Los Angeles Police Department is proposing a change in their duties, where officers will no longer respond to over 25 types of calls. Instead, they suggest that other city agencies or non-profit organizations take over these responsibilities, enabling the officers to concentrate on more severe criminal activity, the Los Angeles Times reports.
During their forthcoming contract negotiations, the Los Angeles Police Protective League plans to suggest to the city negotiators that they allow other departments or non-profit agencies to handle calls regarding panhandling, illegal sidewalk vending, public urination, mental health crises without the threat of violence or criminal activity, and complaints about dangerous dogs when there is no active attack taking place.
According to the union, implementing this shift would have multiple benefits such as allowing officers to prioritize violent crime, increasing the number of cases solved, and enhancing officer morale.
“Police officers are sent to too many calls that are better suited for unarmed service providers,” Craig Lally, president of the union, declared on Tuesday.
The union has collaborated with the City of Los Angeles to create a comprehensive list of calls for service that will be officially announced on Wednesday. According to KTLA News, the following proposals are included:
- Calls related to non-criminal and non-violent homelessness and quality of life issues.
- Non-criminal mental health calls.
- Juvenile disturbance calls that are non-violent or involve juveniles beyond parental control who are not attending school.
- Calls to schools, unless the school administration is making an emergency police response or a mandatory reporting notification.
- Public health order violations.
- Non-violent calls for service at City parks.
- Calls for service related to individuals under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, where no other crime is in progress.
- Welfare checks that are non-criminal or made as a courtesy request from doctors or hospitals.
- Non-fatal vehicle accidents involving property damage only, verbal disputes, or refusals to provide identification.
- Parking violations.
- Driveway tow.
- Abandoned vehicles.
- Illegal dumping of trash.
- Complaints about vicious and dangerous dogs where no attack is in progress.
- Calls for service related to loud noise, music, or anonymous or victimless 'party' complaints.
- Landlord/tenant disputes.
- Loitering/trespassing with no indication of danger.
- Code 30 alarm response (excluding 211 silent alarms).
- Syringe disposal.
- DOT stand-by.
- Homeless encampment clean-ups, unless requested or prescheduled.
- Panhandling.
- Illegal vending.
- Illegal gambling.
- Fireworks.
- Public urination or defecation.
- Drinking in public.
- Suspicious circumstances, such as a possible dead body with no indication of foul play.
This news comes in light of an ongoing crime surge in the area. However, although overall crime rates increased by double digits, the number of violent crimes in 2022 only saw a modest uptick of 1.1% compared to the previous year, Crosstown reports.
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