LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The mayor and police chief argued today that it is imperative for the Los Angeles Police Department to remain around the 10,000-officer level despite an ongoing budget crisis, saying the size of the force contributed to a record decline in the city's homicide rate last year.
Some council members recently questioned the need to maintain 9,963 police officers—a number set by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa—when other city departments have been forced to drastically shrink in size through early retirements and layoffs.