Following a rise in ICE operations during the summer, reports of decreased telephone calls to the Los Angeles Police Department ensued
In the bustling city of Los Angeles, a significant decrease in emergency calls to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was observed during the summer, when federal immigration enforcement ramped up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This trend, according to recent data analyzed by The Times, resulted in an average of roughly 1,200 fewer calls per day to the LAPD.
One individual deeply affected by this development is Marielle Coronel, a co-owner of a boxing gym in Sylmar. Coronel, who is of Latino descent, has taken her parents' advice to heart, carrying her passport with her everywhere she goes due to fears of being profiled. Tending to her gym's front desk one recent afternoon, she expressed her concerns about the decrease in backup from the government.
The steep decline in calls adds to long-standing concerns from advocates that aggressive immigration enforcement leads to domestic abuse and other crimes going unreported.
LAPD Assistant Chief German Hurtado acknowledged it has been a struggle to reassure the public it's safe to call the police. In an attempt to alleviate these fears, the LAPD recently launched a citizens academy for Spanish speakers and has been stepping up its outreach efforts in various immigrant neighborhoods. Senior lead officers have also been meeting with faith and community leaders to reinforce the message that police need victims to cooperate in order to solve crimes.
Interestingly, the decrease in police calls for service was less pronounced in police districts where Latinos make up the majority of residents. This suggests that the community may be more cautious about engaging with the police due to immigration-related fears.
The decline in calls occurred in a city where roughly a third of the population is foreign-born. The decrease in calls can partially be explained by LAPD going on citywide tactical alert during the initial two-week period, prioritizing responses to serious crimes such as shootings and robberies. However, the decrease in calls was particularly noticeable for LAPD calls responding to suspected domestic violence and other incidents related to family disputes, which fell this year by 7% and 16%, respectively, after the ICE activity increased.
This article is based on the analysis of data by The Times, which does not include all 911 calls, only LAPD calls for service. Despite these concerns, it is crucial to remember that reporting crimes to the authorities is essential for maintaining a safe and secure community for everyone.
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