The Los Angeles Police Department is considering a significant, temporary suspension of its police academy operations in 2028 as part of its strategy to secure the upcoming Olympic Games. The proposal would involve pausing academy classes for several months after the January 2028 graduating cohort, allowing more than 300 training officers to be redeployed for Olympic security duties.
Sources familiar with internal discussions revealed that the plan was discussed at a recent senior staff meeting. This move, however, has divided department leaders, with some fearing it could further exacerbate the LAPD's existing recruitment challenges and damage its hiring pipeline for years. "None of this has been approved. This is just a statement someone made in a meeting. It’s all under consideration. They’re trying to find staff," a city official commented on the condition of anonymity.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors expressed strong opposition, stating, "Pausing police hiring may make sense to those whose sole focus is the safety of the Olympic Games, but for anyone who wants a safer Los Angeles beyond the games, it’s a horrible idea." Rank-and-file officers have also voiced concerns, with one source noting that "Every unit in the entire department is going to get harvested to cover the Olympics. The one unit that should get some grace is the academy." Closing the academy could mean losing hundreds of officers and require a lengthy recovery period.
These considerations arise as LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell has repeatedly warned city officials since April that the department lacks sufficient officers and funding to adequately police the 2028 Olympics while maintaining its regular operations. McDonnell previously stated that the LA28 organizing committee had allocated "zero police or other safety budgets" to the LAPD, with federal security funding being shared among multiple agencies and primarily earmarked for overtime.
The LAPD is responsible for security at eight Olympic venues and numerous road events within Los Angeles. The department requires additional officers not only for venue protection but also to ensure continuous routine policing across the city throughout the 66-day period encompassing the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Estimates suggest that the LA28 Games will necessitate between 24,000 and 30,000 law enforcement officers across Southern California. In addition to the potential academy pause, the LAPD is exploring options such as bringing in officers from other law enforcement agencies within California and from out of state. "Everything is under consideration," a source close to the planning indicated.
Brian R. Marvel, president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, acknowledged the staffing challenges, noting that "California’s patrol departments are already stretched thin, so of course staffing the Olympics will require creativity." He cautioned, however, that focusing solely on assembling a temporary workforce might overlook a more significant opportunity.
The ultimate decision on academy class sizes will depend on the LAPD's annual budget, approved by the Los Angeles City Council. In May, the council approved a $15 billion city budget that included Mayor Karen Bass' plan to hire 510 new officers, aiming to increase the department's strength to approximately 8,555 officers by the summer of 2027.
The LAPD declined to comment on internal planning matters, issuing only a brief statement. The mayor's office did not respond to requests for comment. The current proposal to suspend academy operations would halt training for roughly seven months following the January 2028 graduating class, a stark measure aimed at addressing the immediate security demands of the Games.