LOS ANGELES—Hollywood will soon see an increased police presence after the Los Angeles City Council approved funding Aug. 10 intended to address a recent increase in crime in the area.
The council authorized $216,000 from the office of Councilman Mitch O’Farrell—who introduced the motion—to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division to add additional officer shifts. O’Farrell represents the Hollywood area.
According to the councilman’s office, there has been a 75 percent increase in homicides and a 36 percent increase in shots fired so far this year compared to last year—while robbery has gone up by 19 percent and theft has jumped by 25 percent.
“If you plan to come to Hollywood to commit crimes, you are not welcome,” O’Farrell said last week. “All Angelenos should feel safe where they live and work.”
The demand for public safety has exceeded the available resources in Hollywood, according to the motion.
“Hollywood is as diverse, if not more, than any other part of the city itself, and having more resources concentrated in this area would be beneficial to ensuring public safety, particularly to the most vulnerable of society,” the motion says.
Blake Chow, deputy chief for the Los Angeles Police Department, said in a statement last week that people “need to feel safe when they’re in Hollywood.”
“We’re thankful to Council Member O’Farrell for these additional resources and look forward to quickly putting them to use to prevent, deter and address crime,” Chow said.
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