Editor's note: Figures initially provided to KNX News by an LAPD spokesperson indicated there were currently 8,038 sworn officers. The department later corrected that number to 8,799. This article has been updated to reflect the correction.
In April, the Los Angeles Police Department had 8,888 sworn officers – already far below Mayor Karen Bass’ hiring goal. Two months later, the ranks have fallen even further to 8,799 officers.
The L.A. City Council approved a massive pay raise and hiring bonuses for the LAPD last August, hoping the billion-dollar deal would bolster recruitment efforts. Bass hoped to increase the department’s ranks to 9,504 officers by June 2024.
But while the department has received a swarm of applications, the previous five police academy classes have averaged about 31 new recruits – nowhere near enough to keep up with the officers leaving the force.
It’s unclear whether the officers leaving the LAPD are retiring from law enforcement entirely or transferring to different agencies.
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