By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Los Angeles Police Department leadership proposed closing the police academy for approximately seven months after the January 2028 class to redeploy more than 300 training division officers to street-level patrols during the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.
- The proposal would increase available personnel for the 66-day Olympic Games period, from July 14 through the conclusion of the Paralympics in early September, but has sparked debate among department officials concerned about recruitment impacts.
- The City Council approved funding for 510 new officer hires for 2026-27, intended only to replace anticipated departures, leaving the department’s staffing levels relatively flat despite Chief Jim McDonnell’s earlier pleas for additional resources.
- Some council members have expressed openness to the proposal as a necessary “sacrifice” for hosting the Olympics, while Police Chief McDonnell has continuously warned that public safety will suffer without adequate staffing for both Olympic security and normal operations.
- Much could change before the Games, as police academy class sizes are determined annually through the budget approval process.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — The Los Angeles Police Department is evaluating a proposal to suspend police academy operations for approximately seven months during 2028, temporarily reassigning more than 300 training officers to street-level positions during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
According to multiple department sources, the proposal was presented during a senior staff meeting the week of July 1. The plan would close the academy after the January 2028 recruit class and suspend operations through roughly August 2028, encompassing the 66-day Olympic Games period and the subsequent Paralympics.
The academy typically graduates approximately 13 classes annually. Suspending operations would redirect instructors and support personnel—more than 300 officers—from training duties to field assignments during the critical Olympic period, according to sources familiar with the proposal.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell has previously advocated for expanded staffing to address both Olympic security requirements and ongoing public safety demands. At budget hearings, McDonnell warned that inadequate staffing will compromise both Olympic security and routine law enforcement operations. However, the City Council approved funding to hire only 510 officers for the 2026-27 fiscal year, sufficient to replace expected departures rather than add capacity.
Department sources indicated the proposal would include accelerated academy class sizes before and after the Olympic shutdown to offset anticipated officer departures from departures and retirements. However, some officials expressed skepticism, citing the department’s documented recruitment challenges. Any disruption to academy operations could jeopardize long-term recruitment efforts, skeptical officials argue.
City Council Member Tim McOsker acknowledged tensions between recruiting goals and Olympic operational needs, characterizing academy closure as an acceptable “sacrifice” necessary to adequately staff the Games. Uncertainty remains regarding federal funding to cover Olympic-related costs, with federal officials having allocated $1 billion in potential support but with no guarantee of final disbursement.
The LAPD declined to make officials available for interviews regarding the proposal, stating in a brief response that the department will prepare for the Games as always and looks forward to a memorable event.