LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass today issued the following statement after the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve a proposed contract with the union representing police officers, sergeants, detectives, and lieutenants at the Los Angeles Police Department. The agreement aims to improve recruitment and retention.
“Our police department, just like other major city police departments, is enduring a hiring and retention crisis,” said Mayor Bass. “Around the same time that we struck a tentative agreement, the LAPD sworn force dipped below 9,000 for the first time since 2002. I want to thank the leaders of the City Council for supporting this action and I look forward to working together to ensure that Angelenos are safe.”
LAPD is expected to lose hundreds more in the coming year due to retirements and resignations. Since 2017, LAPD has lost more than 430 officers in their first year and a half of duty. A significant amount of officers join other agencies before serving for 10 years. This contract is designed to help address these challenges.
Highlights From The Contract Agreement:
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Multi-Year Deal - The agreement is a 4 year contract, expiring in 2027.
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Improving Recruitment - LAPD has struggled to fill recruitment classes. This agreement increases the starting base salary of LAPD recruits by 13% with a 3% increase in base salary wages annually each year of the contract to remain competitive with surrounding departments.
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Improving Retention - LAPD officers have been recruited by local law enforcement agencies that provide better compensation packages. This agreement includes retention pay incentives to ensure that our officers remain on the job for the long term. The agreement also includes improvements in insurance subsidies for health, life and dental insurance.