L.A. Mayor, Council Leaders Strike Deal to Keep Budget Crisis from Shrinking LAPD

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and two members of the City Council said today they have forged an agreement to keep the number of police officers from shrinking in the middle of a budget crisis.

With officials still trying to eliminate a $405-million shortfall, Council President Eric Garcetti said he “comfortably” has support from at least eight of the council’s 15 members to ensure that the Police Department continues to hire officers to replace those who resign or retire.

Villaraigosa, in turn, said he had no problem with the council’s plan for canceling Police Academy classes next month -- as long as such a move does not result in an overall reduction in the size of the nearly 10,000-officer force.

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