During the 1980s, the LACDA contracted with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) to provide supplemental law enforcement services at our public housing sites, and with the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) to provide protective services at the Carmelitos public housing development in Long Beach. These general law enforcement contracts had a limited impact on the crime problems at the housing sites around the County.
In order to strengthen neighborhoods in and around Los Angeles County public housing, the LACDA initiated a Community Policing Program (CPP) with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Long Beach Police Department in 1993. CPP is a comprehensive approach that includes crime prevention, youth intervention, and enforcement strategies. It utilizes a long-term problem solving approach to address crime and quality of life issues at the sites and within the community. The contracted deputies and officers are dedicated to work exclusively at the public housing sites, but they interface effectively with the local stations and community resources.
The successful LACDA/LASD/LBPD partnership can be measured by the crime reduction in the large housing developments. Since program inception, crime has decreased by over 70% and the quality of life has improved for all public housing residents. CPP is a nationally recognized “best practice” by both housing and law enforcement professional organizations.