LAPD Statement on Mayor’s State of the City Address NR15127lp

Los Angeles: Tonight Mayor Eric Garcetti gave his State of the City Address in which he highlighted several ways the Los Angeles Police Department will continue to fight crime and foster a strong relationship with the community.

In the coming months, there will be an additional 200 officers assigned to Metropolitan Division. This increase will allow officers to quickly be sent to areas where there is an increase in crime or need for extra police patrols.

The Mayor announced that the plans to double the number of Domestic Abuse Response Teams (DART) in the City will be accomplished six months ahead of schedule. DART is a multi-disciplinary team in which law enforcement officers are paired with highly trained victim advocates. The teams meet with and give victims of domestic abuse the legal, medical, and emotional support they need to break the cycle of violence. The Mayor committed earlier this year to placing a DART team in each geographical division.

In an effort to continue to provide a safe environment for the community, the Mayor will increase the budget for the Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) program by $5.5 million. The increased budget will allow for the program to cover new territory. And Summer Night Lights, a summertime GRYD program which gives LAPD a huge interaction with the community and builds trust in areas that are most impacted by gang violence, will be expanded to provide Friday night programming year-round in select parks.

The Mayor also unveiled the creation of a new LAPD Division. This new division will combine community outreach, community policing, and social media engagement. This division will focus on relationship-building with the LAPD and the diverse communities in the City while leveraging best-practices in community policing and cutting-edge digital media technologies.

“I am pleased with the support Mayor Garcetti has shown for public safety” said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. “The year ahead will prove to be a break out year in community partnerships and relationship building for the LAPD.”