IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS F. PUBLIC SERVICES 2. POLICE PROTECTION 1. INTRODUCTION This section addresses impacts on police protection services that would occur due to increased population, traffic, and construction activities associated with the proposed project. The analysis is based in part on information provided by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) regarding police protection facilities, services, and response times. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING a. Existing Conditions (1) Police Protection Facilities and Services The LAPD currently comprises 19 community police areas operated by four geographically located bureaus: the Central, South, West, and Valley Bureaus. The project site is located in the West Bureau of the LAPD, which covers approximately 124 square miles encompassing the neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Century City, Venice, Hancock Park, and the Miracle Mile. The West Bureau oversees operations at four community police stations including the Hollywood Community Police Station, the Wilshire Community Police Station, the Pacific Community Police Station, and the West Los Angeles Community Police Station. The West Bureau also oversees operations at the West Traffic Division, which is responsible for investigating traffic collisions and traffic-related crimes for all operations in the West Bureau. The project site is located in the Wilshire Area, which covers 13.77 square miles and is served by the Wilshire Community Police Station located at 4861 West Venice Boulevard (approximately 2.4 miles southwest of the project site). The cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood and the police stations at Hollywood, Rampart, Southwest, and West Los Angeles border Wilshire’s community boundaries. The Wilshire Community Police Station provides police protection service to a residential population of approximately 272,903 people within the City of Los Angeles Washington Square Mixed-Use Development State Clearinghouse No. 2009021035 January 2010 Page IV.F-21 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work in Progress IV.F.2. Police Protection service area.1 In the event additional staffing is required, additional officers can be called in from other LAPD areas. The Wilshire Area is further divided into several reporting districts. The project site is located within Reporting District (RD) 788, which is bounded by Washington Boulevard to the north, Crenshaw Boulevard to the west, the I-10 freeway (Santa Monica freeway) to the south, and 10th Avenue to the east. Figure IV.F-2 on page IV.F-23 illustrates the location of the Wilshire Area Community Police Station in relation to the project site. Table IV.F-4 on page IV.F-24 provides statistics for the Wilshire Area and Citywide service areas in terms of population served, sworn personnel, crime rates, officers per 1,000 persons, and the average response times for emergency calls. As shown in Table IV.F-4, the Wilshire Area Community Police Station has 230 sworn officers and 25 civilian support staff. Based on this station’s service population of 272,903, the ratio of officer per resident is approximately one officer per 1,187 persons. In comparison, the Citywide ratio is approximately one officer per 406 persons. Officers responding to calls for police service do not respond from the Wilshire Community Police Station but are dispatched from the field. The average response time to emergency calls for the Wilshire Area and particularly to the project vicinity is approximately 7 minutes, which is the same amount of time as the average Citywide response time of 7 minutes. Table IV.F-5 on page IV.F-25 summarizes the 2008 crime statistics for RD 788, the Wilshire Area, and the City. As shown in Table IV.F-5, there are approximately 48 crimes per 1,000 persons in the Wilshire Area and 52 crimes per 1,000 persons Citywide. The most common type of crime in RD 788, the Wilshire Area, and Citywide is aggravated assault and theft which constitutes approximately 20 to 30 percent of the total crimes reported. b. Regulatory Environment (1) Los Angeles General Plan Framework The City of Los Angeles General Plan Framework, adopted in December 1996 and again in August 2001, sets forth general guidance regarding long-term growth issues for the entire City of Los Angeles and defines Citywide policies regarding land use, infrastructure, and public services. Goal 9I of the Infrastructure and Public Services Chapter of the Citywide General Plan Framework 1 LAPD. Website: http://www.lapdonline.org/wilshire_community_police_station/content_basic_view/1723, accessed February 2009. City of Los Angeles Washington Square Mixed-Use Development State Clearinghouse No. 2009021035 January 2010 Page IV.F-22 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work in Progress W 6TH ST FAIRFAX AV FAIRFAX FAIRFAX AV FAIRFAX WILSHIRE BLVD WILSHIRE BLVD W 8TH ST W OLYMPIC BLVD Wilshire Community S WILSTON PL WILSTON S SAN VICENTE BLVD Police Station PL WILSTON S 4861 West Venice S WESTERN AV WESTERN S S WESTERN AV WESTERN S W OLYMPIC BLVD Los Angeles, CA 90019 W PICO BLVD CRENSHAW BLVD W PICO BLVD HAUSER BLVD VENICE BLVD PROJECT SITE S LA BREA AV W WASHINGTON BLVD W WASHINGTON BLVD ARLINGTON AV AV ARLINGTON ARLINGTON S REDONDO BLVD W ADAMS BLVD S WESTERN AV AV WESTERN WESTERN S S N Figure IV.F-2 Location of Wilshire Community 0 0.5 1 Miles Police Station Source: PCR Services Corporation, 2009; Thomas Brothers, Inc. 2008. Washington Square IV.F.2. Police Protection Table IV.F-4 Population, Officer, Crime, and Response Time Comparison for 2008 a Square Sworn Officer/Population Average Response Service Area Miles Population Officers Ratio Crimes Time Wilshire Area 13.77 272,903 230 1/1,187 13,109 7 minutes Citywide 485 4,000,226 9,830 1/406 207,503 7 minutes a Statistical information is based on 2008 LAPD Consolidated Crime Analysis Database and Management Information Development Allocation System. Source: Davis, Eric T., Captain, Wilshire Area Commanding Officer, LAPD, August 25, 2009; LAPD Website, Citywide Crime Statistics: http://www.lapdonline.org/crime_maps_and_compstat/pdf_view/40460, accessed August 20, 2009. is to ensure that every neighborhood has the necessary level of police services, facilities, equipment, and manpower required to provide for the public safety needs of that neighborhood.2 Objective 9.13 and Policy 9.13.1 requires the monitoring and reporting of police statistics and population projections for the purpose of evaluating existing and future needs. Objective 9.14 requires that adequate police services, facilities, equipment, and personnel are available to meet existing and future public needs. Additionally, Objective 9.15 requires police services to provide adequate public safety in emergency situations by maintaining relationships with local law enforcement agencies, State law enforcement agencies, and the National Guard. Presently, the LAPD Computer Statistics Unit (COMPSTAT) implements the General Plan Framework goal of assembling statistical population and crime data to determine necessary crime prevention actions. COMPSTAT was created in 1994 by then Police Commissioner of the New York Police Department and current Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, William J. Bratton. This system implements a multilayer approach to police protection services through statistical and geographical information system (GIS) analysis of growing trends in crime through its specialized crime control model. As such, COMPSTAT has effectively and significantly reduced the occurrence of crime in Los Angeles communities through accurate and timely intelligence regarding emerging crime trends or patterns.3 (2) City of Los Angeles Charter and Administrative and Municipal Codes The law enforcement regulations and the powers and duties of the LAPD are outlined in the City of Los Angeles Charter Article V, Section 570; the City of Los Angeles Administrative 2 City of Los Angeles General Plan Framework, page 9-5. 3. LAPD “COMPSTAT.” http://www.lapdonline.org/crime_maps_and_compstat (accessed February 2009). City of Los Angeles Washington Square Mixed-Use Development State Clearinghouse No. 2009021035 January 2010 Page IV.F-24 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work in Progress IV.F.2. Police Protection Table IV.F-5 Crime Statistics by Reporting District of Occurrence RD 788 Wilshire Citywide Crime Number Percent a Number Percent a Number Percent a Burglary 14 11 1,240 9 19,327 9 Robbery 12 10 1,069 8 13,302 6 Weapon 2 2 92 1 1,506 1 Murder 0 0 22 2 384 0 Rape 0 0 37 0 774 0 Aggravated Assault/Other Assault 30 24 2,517 19 45,142 22 Against Family/Child 1 1 49 0 935 0 Disorderly Conduct 0 0 32 0 448 0 Vagrancy 1 1 87 1 1,560 0 Other Sex Offense 2 2 180 1 2,831 1 Pimping/Panhandling 0 0 4 0 46 0 Theft from Person/Vehicle/Other 23 18 3,692 28 57,011 27 Vehicle Theft 11 9 1,364 10 22,908 11 Forgery/Counterfeit 1 1 173 1 2419 1 Fraud/ Embezzlement 0 0 130 1 1,636 1 Vandalism 14 11 1,366 10 22,474 11 Other Violations 14 11 1,055 8 14,800 7 Total Crimes 125 13,109 207,503 Crimes per 1,000 persons 48 52 a Totals rounded up to the nearest whole number, therefore, values may not add to exactly 100 percent. Source: Davis, Eric T., Captain, Wilshire Area Commanding Officer, Los Angeles Police Department, August 25, 2009. 2008 Los Angeles Police Department Consolidated Criminal Analysis Database and Management Information Development Allocation System. Code Chapter 11, Section 22.240; and the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Chapter 5 (Public Safety and Protection), Article 2 (Police and Special Officers). City of Los Angeles Charter Article V, Section 570 gives power and duty to the Police Department to enforce the penal provisions of the Charter, City ordinances and state and federal law. The charter also provides that the responsibility of the LAPD is to act as peace officers and to protect lives and property in times of disaster or public calamity.