STEPS TAKEN TOWARD LAX POLICE FORCE MERGER IDEA.Byline: James Nash Staff Writer City officials took steps Monday toward merging the LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. with the embattled em·bat·tled adj. 1. Prepared or fortified for battle or engaged in battle: embattled troops; an embattled city. 2. LAX police force, despite warnings from the airport officers union that the city might be acting hastily. The Airport Commission approved a $900,000 study of merging the 400- officer airport police force with the 9,100-officer Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . , a move prompted by earlier reports that airport police botched botch tr.v. botched, botch·ing, botch·es 1. To ruin through clumsiness. 2. To make or perform clumsily; bungle. 3. To repair or mend clumsily. n. 1. some incidents and wasted time on the job. In addition, the City Council's Public Safety Committee discussed a proposed City Charter change that would allow the LAPD to absorb the airport force. The possible charter amendment could appear on the May 2005 ballot. City Councilman Bernard Parks, who favors exploring the merger, said a 1999 amendment to the charter handcuffs hand·cuff n. A restraining device consisting of a pair of strong, connected hoops that can be tightened and locked about the wrists and used on one or both arms of a prisoner in custody; a manacle. Often used in the plural. tr.v. city officials in considering the most effective and cost-efficient way to run an airport police force. ``What we're doing is unraveling poor public policy and giving the city more options in responding to a public safety emergency,'' said Parks, a candidate for mayor. But the union representing airport police cautioned that city leaders might be rushing into a decision based on a television report that showed airport police wasting time at a fast-food restaurant and chatting while ignoring emergency radio calls. The airport force already was under fire for its handling of a SWAT team incident aboard an airliner and the crash of an airport police vehicle in Inglewood. In a written statement, the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Airport Peace Officers Association said city officials need to thoroughly study the consequences of merging the police forces. ``What if the experts determine that a merger of police forces or leadership is not in the best interest of protecting the airports?'' the union asked. ``An airport police/LAPD merger experiment could have tragic consequences.'' Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California and a growing number of elected officials support the merger. City Administrative Officer William Fujioka said a partial or complete merger would save money by cutting down on overtime costs for LAPD officers working airport duty. In addition, Fujioka said a combined force A military force composed of elements of two or more allied nations. See also force(s). would be more efficient and better equipped to deal with emergencies. ``To me, although I'm confident there will be cost savings, it's a matter of operational efficiency and clear lines of authority,'' Fujioka said. James Nash, (213) 978-0390 james.nash(at)dailynews.com |
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