CHIEF LISTS PLANS FOR MEASURE A CRITICS HIT ELECTION PROXIMITY.

Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer

Just four days before voters decide the fate of a sales-tax increase that would benefit law enforcement, police Chief William Bratton released the first Plan of Action report for the LAPD.

In the two-year plan, Bratton said he could cut the murder rate and violent crime by 50 percent if the Los Angeles Police Department had 3,300 additional officers and state-of-the-art technology.

``My commitment, and that of all the other police officers of the LAPD, is to do all in our power to achieve continued reductions in crime,'' Bratton wrote in his report, which was partly by the private Police Foundation.

``A significant increase in the LAPD force size is needed if the LAPD is to deliver on the goal of making and keeping Los Angeles the safest big city in America.''

Measure A - the half-percent sales-tax increase on Tuesday's ballot - would generate an estimated $560 million a year for public safety. The LAPD would get about $160 million beginning next March, allowing the hiring of 1,260 more officers.

Under Bratton's plan - released on the second anniversary of his swearing in - at least 750 officers would be deployed to the 18 geographic divisions, including the new North Valley Station, scheduled to open next spring.

Some 228 officers would be assigned to gang-enforcement teams, 168 would be senior lead officers, 64 would go to narcotics enforcement teams and 50 would work counterterrorism duties. Additionally, 128 civilians would be assigned to jobs now staffed by officers.

Bratton also said he could save some $86 million annually by upgrading technology that would reduce paperwork loads.

``The time has come to remove the technology handicap that has greatly impeded LAPD productivity and placed at unnecessary risk the safety of both police officers and the people of Los Angeles,'' he wrote.

Bratton released advance copies of the report to the media, but not city or LAPD officials - a move that drew criticism.

``I think as city leaders, especially the department command staff, it would be appropriate for them to receive it before the public receives it,'' Zine said. ``A courtesy copy to elected officials and a copy to the command staff prior to being released to the media would be appropriate.''

Bob Stern, the president of the nonprofit Center for Governmental Studies, questioned why the report was released less than a week before the Measure A election.

``The whole campaign's been a scare tactic,'' Stern said. ``Why didn't he come out with this plan next week or five months ago?''

Staff writer James Nash contributed to this report.

Jason Kandel, [phone]

jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com