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LAPD to stop responding to these 911 calls under new proposal

By Alexa Mae Asperin
Updated  March 1, 2023 1:41pm PST
LAPD
FOX 11

LAPD union voices support for unarmed response to certain 911 calls

The union that represents Los Angeles Police Department officers said it supported removing sworn officers from 28 types of emergency calls.

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Department may no longer send armed officers to certain calls for service - including non-criminal mental health calls and landlord-tenant disputes - under a new proposal presented Wednesday. 

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which is the union that represents LAPD officers, voiced its support for the system

RELATED: Los Angeles announces unarmed alternative to policing

Craig Lally, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said police officers are often deployed to too many calls that may be better suited for unarmed service providers.

"We believe that in order to maximize the potential benefits of this new response model, it’s important that the initial list of calls where police officers will cease responding to is robust," Lally said.

Unarmed response team working to address non-violent 911 calls about the homeless

It's a first of its kind initiative, diverting non-violent 911 calls involving the homeless away from law enforcement.

Here is the full list:

  1. Non-criminal and/or non-violent homeless and quality of life-related calls;
  2. Non-criminal mental health calls;
  3. Non-violent juvenile disturbance or juveniles beyond parental control calls; (won’t go to school);
  4. Calls to schools unless the school administration is initiating a call for an emergency police response or making a mandatory reporting notification;
  5. Public Health Order violations;
  6. Non-violent calls for service at City parks;
  7. Under the influence calls (alcohol and/or drugs) where there is no other crime in progress;
  8. Welfare Check - Non-Criminal;- Courtesy request from Drs/Hospitals;
  9. Non-Fatal Vehicle Accidents – 1181/1182/1183/1179;- Non-DUI/Non-Criminal; Property damage only (including City property), Verbal disputes involving non-injury traffic collisions, refusing to share ID at traffic collisions;
  10. Parking violations;
  11. Driveway tow;
  12. Abandoned vehicles;
  13. Person dumping trash;
  14. Vicious and dangerous dog complaints where no attack is in progress;
  15. Calls for service for loud noise, loud music, or ‘party’ calls that are anonymous or have no victim;
  16. Landlord/Tenant Disputes;
  17. Loitering/Trespassing With No Indication Of Danger;
  18. Code 30 Alarm Response (except 211 silent alarm);
  19. Syringe Disposal;
  20. DOT Stand-By;
  21. Homeless Encampment Clean-Ups, unless officers are requested or prescheduled;
  22. Panhandling;
  23. Illegal Vending;
  24. Illegal Gambling;
  25. Fireworks;
  26. Defecating/Urinating In Public;
  27. Drinking in Public;
  28. Suspicious circs-possible dead body, where no indication of foul play

The proposal would allow LAPD officers more time to respond faster to "more serious emergencies" and help increase crime clearance rates, among other goals.

"It is time to end the debate about sending unarmed responders to appropriate 911 calls," said Jerretta Sandoz, Vice-president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League.  "Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get to the hard work of implementing an alternative response model. We are prepared to enter into an expedited dialogue to take action."

Councilman Bob Blumenfield said in a statement that he was encouraged by the proposal as the city aims to reshape its response to certain calls for service.

"This list of calls presents opportunities that enable the city to develop a network of trained crisis workers and community based responders to be dispatched for non-criminal behavior and situations," Blumenfield said. "In order to build this network out, dedicated city staff is needed to focus on this work and realize its transformative potential."

To read the full proposal, tap or click here.

The City Council was set to vote Wednesday on approving $1 million in funding toward creating an Office of Unarmed Response and Safety, but delayed taking up the item by two weeks.

Last month, Los Angeles city officials kicked off a new public safety initiative that introduces an unarmed response alternative to policing. Aimed at providing trauma training and services to community intervention workers, the Project TURN initiative (Therapeutic Unarmed Response for Neighborhoods) was introduced by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who chairs the City Council's public safety committee.

The program seeks to help the over 100 community intervention workers in the city with training provided by the Community Based Public Safety Collective, The Reverence Project and the BUILD Program. They will provide therapy and other activities such as yoga, meditation and healing circles.

SUGGESTED: Following cry for change, LA launches unarmed response to non-violent 911 calls involving homeless

Rodriguez said that the community intervention workers help prevent retaliatory violence, reducing the need for officers to engage in the neighborhoods. Ideally, the workers find out information from community members, and handle the situation long before police need to arrive.

Something similar was also enacted two years ago in San Francisco following the death of George Floyd. San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that non-criminal calls would be handled by "trained, unarmed professionals," rather than armed police officers.