Press Release

On Wednesday, June 19, 2002, Sheriff Baca met with his command staff and outlined program curtailments and reallocations for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. This drastic action was the result of chronic under funding of the Sheriff’s Budget, especially in the category of Custody Services and the $100 million shortfall in the Proposed 2002-2003 budget.

During the past few months, the Sheriff’s Department accomplished an incredible feat in confronting the budget crisis emanating from the proposed $100 million cut in law enforcement services. The “Public Safety Priority One” campaign was organized to inform the public of the budget crisis and garner help in calling upon the Board of Supervisors for budget reform. It was no easy task. Thousands of Sheriff’s Department members joined together with tens of thousands of people from the communities we serve in bringing the Department’s plight to the attention of the Board of Supervisors. As a result of this intense lobbying effort, the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 for an independent audit of the budget process and the County’s budget development process as it pertains to the Sheriff’s Department.
After careful scrutiny of the Department budget, restructuring our $100 million shortfall, coupled with the acquisition of some special revenues, we will be able to temporarily delay some of the proposed cuts and closures which were originally proposed.
Saved from the cuts will be: Safe Streets Bureau, Aero Bureau, Family Crimes Bureau, Emergency Services Detail, the Mental Evaluation Teams, and Identity Theft Unit.
We will incur partial cuts to our Hate Crimes Unit, Cargo CATS, and S.T.A.R. Unit.
Unfortunately, the following units are scheduled for closure within the next two to four weeks:

• COPS Bureau - 175 sworn positions will be reassigned on June 23, 2002 to uniform patrol assignments. Six professional staff positions will also be reassigned.
• Recruit Training/Pre-employment - 34 sworn positions and two professional staff positions will be reassigned (NOTE: No LASD recruit classes are scheduled for the 2002-2003 fiscal year).
• Biscailuz Recovery Center will be closed - 27 sworn positions and 22 professional staff positions will be reassigned (Biscailuz Recovery Center programs will be moved to Century Regional Detention Facility).
• Century Regional Detention Facility - 184 sworn positions and 67 professional staff positions will be reassigned. Booking operations, a limited maintenance crew, and Biscailuz Recovery Center programs will remain.
• Asian Crime Task Force - 28 sworn positions and 7 professional staff positions will be reassigned.
• Deputy Leadership Institute - 11 sworn positions and 2 professional staff positions will be reassigned.
• LASD2 Team - 14 sworn positions will be reassigned.

These cuts are a devastating disruption to the careers and personal lives of hundreds of dedicated Department members. This disruption is going to be very difficult. The Department is actively exploring ways to restore these units and positions and to prevent further cuts.
The Sheriff’s Department will make every possible effort to maintain the high level of service and protection the communities in Los Angeles County have come to expect.

SHB-48A-02

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June 20, 2002