- Apr 3, 2025
-
-
-
Loading
As the first rays of dawn broke on Father’s Day, Kimberly Latham parked outside her friend’s store on First Street, only to be met with the shocking sight of a shattered front door. With the sun still hiding, she made the decision to wait for the police, her heart racing as she sat in her car, high beams illuminating the scene, ready to sound the horn at the slightest hint of trouble.
What was supposed to be a peaceful morning turned into a three-hour wait. Latham’s anxiety grew as she realized that the police had taken nearly four hours to arrive at the scene of a break-in. Frustration bubbled within her, a feeling shared by many residents in Long Beach as they grapple with increasingly delayed emergency responses.
Recent data reveals alarming statistics regarding police response times in Long Beach. For non-priority requests, officers are now taking over 20 minutes longer to respond than they did just three years ago. This delay is primarily due to a staggering shortage of personnel, with the police department currently facing 155 vacancies—about 20% of its total force.
Despite a 3.7% decline in violent crime last month, commercial theft surged by a staggering 67.6%. This juxtaposition highlights a troubling reality for Long Beach residents: dialing 911 is no longer a guarantee of swift assistance, even in critical situations.
At a recent City Council meeting, Councilmember Kristina Duggan expressed her concerns about the decline in traffic stops and citations. “I know it’s because of vacancies,” she stated, emphasizing the community's growing frustration with the lack of traffic enforcement.
The ongoing staffing crisis within the police department has reached unprecedented levels, with 155 sworn officers missing. This shortage is particularly evident in the traffic enforcement division, which is currently operating at only half its budgeted capacity.
Long Beach Police Officers' Association President, Lt. Rich Chambers, spoke candidly about the current state of the department. He noted that this is the highest number of vacancies he has seen in nearly three decades. A recently retired senior officer attributed the high attrition rates to low morale and a lack of trust in leadership, stating, “Officers feel unappreciated, they feel unseen, they feel ignored.”
While city officials tout recent successes in recruiting new officers through incentives, the reality on the ground suggests a deeper issue. Long Beach’s police department is not only grappling with staffing shortages but also with the community's growing distrust, further complicating their efforts to maintain public safety.
For business owners like Kathleen Engel, the owner of Make Collectives, the situation is becoming untenable. Engel shared, “My last employee just quit because she didn’t feel safe.” As crime rates rise and response times lag, shop owners face the harsh reality of being targeted, leading to smashed windows and stolen merchandise. They often feel powerless against theft and harassment, with many voicing their concerns at public meetings.
Engel reflects on her past experiences in the neighborhood, stating, “I’ve been here for 12 years. I love my community. I love my neighborhood. But I don’t have any intention of moving, nor do I have the resources to do so.”
The current state of emergency response in Long Beach raises critical questions about safety, community trust, and the future of law enforcement in the city. As the community continues to grapple with these challenges, it becomes increasingly clear that action is needed to address the staffing shortages and restore faith in local law enforcement.
Comments
Leave a Reply