Does LA's police department plan to close a sexual-assault investigation unit?
Facing budget pressures, Los Angeles' police department says it plans to dissolve a sexual-assault unit that is part of its robbery and homicide division, according to NBC's Los Angeles affiliate. A dozen specialized detectives and one lieutenant will be reassigned to geographic bureaus. In June, the city council cut $150 million from the department's $1.86 billion budget after Black Lives Matter protests called for shifting funding from policing to community programs. The department is also anticipating city funding pressures as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
LA's police chief is planning to cut other specialized investigative groups as well, in order to preserve capabilities to handle daily emergencies and calls. The alternative would be to "decimate our patrol staffing," he explained.
