In the latter part of 2021, the LAPD implemented several reserve officer high-visibility patrol details, particularly foot beats, focusing on locations that have seen a rise in robberies, such as the Melrose corridor in the Hollywood and Wilshire areas. While the number of robberies has remained flat in the city compared to last year, there has been an 18% increase in robberies involving guns,1 including brazen midday robberies of businesses and their customers.
A key part of these task forces has been to connect with the community and to engage with business owners and others. Leading these efforts has been Deputy Chief Blake Chow and Commander Billy Brockway.
On August 13, 14 LAPD reserve officers from several divisions worked a task force in Hollywood Area, focusing on Hollywood Boulevard. CBS Los Angeles reported, “LAPD is showing off its presence on the streets of Hollywood,” noting that the officers were reserve officers, and the Department says they “are the exact bridge this community needs during an unprecedented time.” Deputy Chief Chow noted, “They come from all walks of life.” Reserve Motors were also on scene.
The Melrose corridor was the focus of a reserve detail in Wilshire Area on August 23.
On August 28, reserve officers worked foot beats at the Wilshire/Vermont corridor in Olympic Area.
On October 7, Chief of Police Michel Moore referred to these reserve high-visibility patrols in an interview with KTLA News. Two days later on Facebook, LAPD HQ posted about an Olympic Area Task Force that included reserve officers: “From Valley Bureau to South Bureau, from Central Bureau to West Bureau, the LAPD’s citywide Violent Crime Task Force, such as these LAPD Olympic Division (full-time) Officers and reserves, is taking an effective two-pronged approach to reducing crime: high-visibility foot beats and community engagement.”
During Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this year, reserve officers provided extra patrol at synagogues and the local areas (see Yom Kippur).
1https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-09-18/melrose-strip-gun-crime-wave-microcosm-of-firearms-holdups-citywide