RETIREES EYED AS DISASTER HELP EX-LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COULD BE TAPPED.

Byline: TROY ANDERSON Staff Writer

Hoping to avoid the type of chaos that followed Hurricane Katrina, a Los Angeles County panel recommended Friday creating a program to recruit retired law enforcement officers to volunteer during disasters.

The Retired Peace Officer Corps would augment local law enforcement agencies by staffing police and sheriff's stations, freeing up all available officers to respond to the disaster, according to a report by the Citizens' Economy and Efficiency Commission.

``Disasters such as Katrina have also demonstrated that local communities cannot rely on outside resources to manage and control a crisis,'' the report said.

After Katrina, some New Orleans Police Department officers went missing, making it more difficult for police to control crime and provide help.

``The biggest advantage (with retirees) is that they are all experienced,'' said sheriff's Capt. Joe Garza, who runs the Reserve Forces Bureau that oversees 760 reservists who volunteer at least 20 hours a month.

``The majority of them have 20- to 30-plus years of experience. So they are a great resource you could use to augment our other law enforcement officers to allow them to attend to more emergent duties during disasters.''

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said one of the biggest problems after Katrina was that many officers had lost their homes.

``By utilizing retired officers, it would give us additional personnel to come in, hit the ground running and provide the necessary assistance, which is critical,'' he said.

Under the proposal, the Sheriff's Department would be responsible for determining applicants' qualifications, conducting background checks, determining means of accountability and establishing training.

Individuals would be eligible for membership if they retired in good standing from any law enforcement agency in the state.

Participants would not have to volunteer a certain number of hours a month, but only be available during emergencies.

The department would be authorized to spend any funds deemed appropriate to administer the program. The commission expects the program would save the county money.

``The commission firmly believes that when the Board of Supervisors adopts its proposal to establish a RPOC, and when the Sheriff's Department implements its provisions, that the security for the residents of Los Angeles County will be significantly enhanced,'' commission Chair Jaclyn Tilley Hill said.

To volunteer, call Garza at [phone].

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

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