Redondo Beach and neighboring South Bay Police Departments have struggled to fill ranks as the agencies see more and more open positions for officers. It appears finding qualified candidates to join law enforcement has been an industry-wide issue due to failing background checks and low maturity levels.
Many local agencies hope to bolster their ranks with lateral transfers from the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Bringing on seasoned police officers versus rookies aids in avoiding additional training. However, many officers are reluctant to transfer in recent years due to fear of losing their seniority and exposing themselves to layoffs.
With more and more allegations of police misconduct coming out of the South Bay and Los Angeles in general, the strict criteria for police academy admission and lower number of candidates to fill ranks is seen as a positive by many. Recently, the El Segundo Police Department saw an entire class of candidates disqualified after the final 16 failed background checks. This class had started as a group of 600.
Many Redondo Beach residents state they prefer a lower number of police officers on the streets if they have the experience and know-how to accomplish their responsibilities. Quality over quantity.
If you or a loved on has been arrested, call us at (310) 361-3068 or e-mail us immediately for your free consultation.