In a statement made amidst failed wage discussions with the city, the deputy head of a Los Angeles police union suggested that officers should consider leaving the city and seek employment elsewhere.
The advice was given by Jerretta Sandoz, the second in command of the Los Angeles Police Protective League (PPL), during a Facebook post made from her personal account in late June, while the pay discussions were ongoing. In her comment, now removed, Sandoz criticized the LA City Council, stating that it was biased against the police.
She was quoted saying, as per a screenshot now accessible via the Los Angeles Times, “Opt for a place where your work is valued, and you’re not in a situation where you’re pleading for a decent contract”. She urged them to choose a location where city management appreciates their contributions and isn’t governed by two or more council members who despise them.
The PPL of LA represents nearly 9,000 police officers in the city. Since 2019, the city has already seen an exodus of 1,000 officers.
Sandoz’s frustrations are seen in the backdrop of an increasing number of police officers leaving the city, citing dissatisfaction with the city administration. The loss of officers has been referred to as “extremely disheartening” by LA Police Commissioner Erroll Southers, as reported by the Times.
Sandoz justified her statements to the Times, noting that the police officers had been contemplating moving out of the city even before she made her comment.
In her interaction with the news outlet, she stated, “My comments were a part of a broader online conversation around officers who had already made up their mind to quit the LAPD.” She expressed her firm belief in every word she wrote for those who had made up their minds or were strongly thinking of moving from the LAPD to another agency.
In the meantime, crime and homelessness are surging in California’s biggest city. The Democratic Mayor, Karen Bass, signed an updated emergency declaration on homelessness just last week. This gives her added authority to fast-track housing construction, request city employees’ emergency services, and facilitate citywide planning to address the homeless crisis.
California tops the list with the highest number of homeless people in the nation. As per Department of Housing and Urban Development data, on a single night the previous year, 30% of all homeless individuals in the country, or 171,521 people, were in California.
