LAPD weighs canceling academy classes to get more cops on streets for Olympics

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Set us as preferred The LAPD is considering whether to shut down its police academy for part of 2028 in order to put hundreds of officers back to work on the streets in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to four department sources.The sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss internal matters, said the proposal was floated at a senior staff meeting last week.

The idea has sparked debate, the sources said, with some officials worried that a pause would set back the department’s efforts to hire more police officers and replenish its dwindling ranks.The LAPD declined to make any official available for an interview about the proposal.In response to an inquiry from The Times, the department released a short statement that said: “The Olympic Games are two years away.

The LAPD will be prepared as always to keep the citizens and visitors of Los Angeles safe.We look forward to a memorable event.”Much could still change between now and the start of the Olympics.

The size of recruit classes are dictated by the department’s annual budget, which is approved by the City Council before each fiscal year.Recently, the council signed off on a $15-billion city budget for 2026-27, preserving Mayor Karen Bass’ plan to hire 510 officers — only enough cops to replace those who are expected to leave over the next fiscal year.It’s not uncommon during large events for the department to mobilize officers from specialized units and others who don’t normally work in the field.But the potential cancellation of more than half of the 13 academy classes that the LAPD typically graduates in a given year came as a surprise to some.Under the proposal, the academy could cease operations for roughly seven months after the January 2028 class, which would let the department temporarily ...