Comments
THE BOTTOM LINE - When Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned that the city needs roughly 3,300 additional officers, it was not political rhetoric — it was a clear assessment of risk. His description of the department operating like “half a team” facing an Olympic-sized threat should send a serious message to City Hall and to residents across Los Angeles. The warning comes as the city prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, one of the largest global events in modern history.
Los Angeles is a city of nearly four million residents spanning 469 square miles. It is a global hub for entertainment, trade, tourism, and international diplomacy. Each week, the city hosts professional sporting events, concerts, conventions, and cultural gatherings that draw massive crowds. Yet despite this scale and complexity, the LAPD’s sworn ranks have steadily declined over the past decade. Fewer officers now cover more territory, respond to more calls, and face increasingly complex public safety demands. The result is longer response times, reduced proactive patrols, officer fatigue, and diminished neighborhood visibility.
This is not an ideological debate it is a question of capacity. Public safety requires personnel. Officers must respond to emergencies, investigate crimes, manage traffic incidents, and coordinate with other agencies. When staffing drops below sustainable levels, something gives. That “something” often means slower response, fewer specialized units, and less preventive policing the opposite of what a global city preparing for a mega-event should accept.
The 2028 Olympics will bring millions of visitors, foreign dignitaries, global media attention, and heightened security concerns. Planning requires coordination among federal, state, and local agencies, but the backbone of the operation will remain local law enforcement. Venue protection, transit security, infrastructure defense, crowd management, cyber monitoring, and routine emergency response will all depend on adequate staffing. Hosting an event of this magnitude while operating thousands of officers below optimal levels is not just a logistical challenge it is a strategic vulnerability.
Some argue that federal resources will fill the gap. Federal partners will assist, but they are supplements not substitutes. Day-to-day policing and citywide coordination rest with the LAPD. A city cannot outsource its foundational security obligations. If the department is already stretched thin managing routine public safety needs, layering Olympic demands on top of that strain risks exposing dangerous gaps at precisely the wrong moment.
Public safety cannot be treated as a secondary budget item. Los Angeles faces fiscal headwinds and rising liability costs, but the cost of under-preparation would far exceed the investment required to strengthen staffing. A serious public safety failure during a global event would carry financial, reputational, and human consequences no city can afford. Prevention is always less costly than crisis response.
Rebuilding the force will not happen overnight. Recruitment requires competitive compensation and modern outreach. Background checks and academy training take time. Retaining experienced officers demands stability and confidence in leadership. If the city truly needs 3,300 additional officers, rebuilding must begin now with a disciplined, multi-year strategy that expands academy capacity, strengthens retention, and sets measurable benchmarks tied directly to Olympic readiness.
Equally important is public confidence. A well-staffed department must also be well-trained and accountable. Staffing investment should advance oversight, technology modernization, and community engagement. Public safety and public trust are not opposing goals; they reinforce one another.
This is a leadership test for the Mayor and the Los Angeles City Council. Residents deserve clarity about staffing plans, funding, recruitment targets, and timelines. With 2028 approaching quickly, the window for meaningful preparation is narrowing.
Los Angeles has an opportunity to showcase its strength and resilience when the Olympic torch is lit. But that showcase depends first on safety. Chief McDonnell’s warning should serve as a catalyst for sustained action. Three thousand three hundred officers is not merely a number it is a benchmark of readiness. When the world arrives in 2028, readiness not excuses will define this city’s legacy.
(Mihran Kalaydjian is a seasoned public affairs and government relations professional with more than twenty years of experience in legislative affairs, public policy, community relations, and strategic communications. A respected civic leader and education advocate, he has spearheaded numerous academic and community initiatives, shaping dialogue and driving reform in local and regional political forums. His career reflects a steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability, and public service across Los Angeles and beyond.)
