State and City Partner to Help Homeless Individuals, LAPD Receives Record Number of Applicants and State Has 105 New CHP Officers

Mayor and Governor Advance Partnership to Help House Angelenos Living In Freeway Encampments  

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom Merch 6 moved forward on a new partnership to help keep areas near freeways clean and safe as both the state and the city continue their efforts to bring unhoused people indoors. This partnership is a result of the delegation trip led by Mayor Bass and Council President Paul Krekorian last week, which also included Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, Councilwoman Rodriguez and Councilmember Soto-Martinez. The delegation returned to Los Angeles having secured more than $300 million in emergency reimbursements for the LA region, with nearly $60 million in reimbursements in COVID-19 related expenses for the city. 

Initiated by the mayor’s office, this agreement between the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation or LASAN and the California Department of Transportation or Caltrans will allow city crews to access Caltrans properties to remove trash and debris from areas near freeways in LA. This strategy is to help make sure public spaces are clean and safe following operations that bring unhoused people inside. The state will reimburse Los Angeles for costs associated with the partnership in the Caltrans District 7 Metro Region.

In order to be ratified, the agreement must be considered by the Board of Public Works and the Los Angeles City Council. 

Details: Read the full document signed by the Mayor and the Governor here.

 Mayor Bass Announces Record Number of Applicants to LAPD

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass March 7 announced that the Los Angeles Police Department received more than 1,200 applications to join the department in January, a two-year high in the number of applicants. The department is also reporting significant increases in the number of qualification exams administered and the number of candidates participating in the Candidate Assistance Program, which provides support to eligible applicants navigating the hiring process. The increase in applications and interest in being hired within the department follows Mayor Bass’ focus on recruiting and retaining officers to the police department. Violent crime and homicides were down during the mayor’s first year in office compared to the year prior.

Last year, the mayor and city council approved a multi-year contract with the union representing police officers, sergeants, detectives, and lieutenants at the Los Angeles Police Department to improve recruitment and retention. At the time of the agreement, LAPD was expected to lose hundreds of officers in the coming year due to retirements and resignations. Since 2017, 430 LAPD officers have left the force during their first year and a half of duty. A significant number of officers join other agencies before serving for 10 years. This contract was designed to help address these challenges.

Additionally, more CHP officers have been deployed by Gov. Newsom

105 New CHP Officers Deployed to the Golden State

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom March 7 congratulated a newly graduating class of 105 CHP officers who were sworn in this week and are being deployed across California. Marking the end of an intensive 26-week training, the new officers were sworn in by CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee during a graduation ceremony at the West Sacramento CHP Academy Friday.

The CHP is the largest public-facing state law enforcement agency in the United States with over 6,500 sworn officers assigned across California. As part of California’s $1.1 billion investment to improve public safety, in 2022, CHP launched a multiyear recruitment campaign to fill 1,000 officer positions by hiring qualified individuals from California’s diverse communities. The CHP has seen a significant increase in recent applications and has expanded training operations three-fold for the first time in its history to accommodate the increased interest.