BRATTON PUSHES FOR MORE FUNDING.

Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer

LAPD Chief William Bratton lobbied Tuesday for $4 million more for crime-fighting beyond what Mayor James Hahn is seeking through increased city fees to hire hundreds of new police officers.

Bratton said the money - in addition to the $1 billion earmarked for the LAPD in the proposed budget - would fund new computers, more civilian workers and DNA analysis in violent crime cases, while allowing him to continue reorganizing the department and wrestling down crime rates.

Bratton said he wants to reduce homicides by 25 percent next year and overall crime by 10 percent, and his additional requests are essential to those goals.

``It's an investment that pays out every time one of those lives isn't lost, a car not stolen, a livelihood not stolen,'' Bratton said during the second day of hearings on the proposed budget.

``The city invested one time before and saw great results. Back in the mid-'90s, the previous administration put a lot of money into police and it paid out. Crime went down dramatically.''

The five council members on the budget panel were generally receptive to Bratton's request, though they asked for some additional information. In fact, elected officials have made a concerted effort to give the new chief what he asks for as he tries to bring the Los Angeles Police Department closer to its authorized force of 10,000 officers.

Hahn gave priority to the LAPD when drafting his proposal for fiscal 2003-04, increasing LAPD funding by 9 percent to help hire 320 new officers while recommending hikes in sewer and residential trash pick-up fees, and decreasing services like tree trimming and street paving.

``I agree that it's the highest priority in the budget,'' said Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee. ``I think I will look at every alternative, if there's a cut somewhere else, if there's a revenue to be raised; (police hiring) is something that should stay in there as long as can be.''

Bratton's request comes as the council grapples with projections by Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton that slumping revenues will result in a $169 million deficit for 2004-05, and $290 million the next year - figures not addressed in the proposed budget.

``I don't have any objections to the goals at all,'' said Councilman Nick Pacheco, chairman of the council's Budget and Finance Committee. But, he added, ``the homicide rate is one that any society has least amount of control over.''

``I don't believe that,'' Bratton replied. ``We did it in New York; we can do it here ... You put enough cops out there, you can in fact, control and deal with that.''

Bratton's requests Tuesday included:

--$2.83 million to replace outdated computers.

--$930,000 to hire contractors to process DNA for current and backlogged crime cases.

--$386,000 to hire 18 clerical workers.

In addition, Bratton asked that the civilian hiring freeze be lifted, provided the LAPD doesn't exceed its budget.

Budget hearings are scheduled to continue through the week.