LOS ANGELES, June 9 (UPI) -- Police officials say the $5.1 million city budget finally approved last week allows the Los Angeles Police Department to keep hiring cops.
But the Los Angeles Daily News says police are still unhappy with the spending plan because it stalls LAPD efforts to reorganize bureaus to fight gang crime and thwart terrorists.
The budget will allow the LAPD to hire 400 officers during fiscal 2003-04, enough to at least keep pace with attrition.
But the council's refusal to fully fund Chief William Bratton's requests will delay promotions of 251 officers and stall his reorganization plan, officials said. It also will halt the $8 million purchase of 214 replacement squad cars and 114 motorcycles.
The department's second in command said, "I don't think it will stop us from doing anything we want to do." Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said, "Just the degree of what we can do may be impacted. We will continue to deal with gang issues, crime issues and the counterterrorism effort."
