Mayor Eric Garcetti recently welcomed the inaugural class of Pledge to Patrol, an initiative he created to help increase the diversity of the Los Angeles Police Department.
The program, which was announced during Garcetti’s 2017 State of the City address, offers training and paid civilian employment to young people who have participated in the LAPD’s youth programs and are interested in joining the force when they become eligible at age 21.
The initial 26-member class is more than 50 percent female and represents 22 communities across Los Angeles County, according to Garcetti’s office.
“We’re building stronger bridges between the classroom and the roll call room, and I am thrilled to see such a diverse inaugural class for Pledge to Patrol,” Garcetti said. “This program offers a path to LAPD careers for some of our most promising young people, and gives more Angelenos an opportunity to serve the communities they know.”
Garcetti’s Innovation Team, which is a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, helped design Pledge to Patrol in cooperation with the LAPD and the city’s Personnel Department.
“Pledge to Patrol is designed to identify, retain and train the next generation of LAPD officers, who are committed to the core values of the department and to creating safe and healthy communities in Los Angeles,” LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.
