Los Angeles - News: Crime continues to be almost non-existent at LAX

The local newspaper is reporting that crime rate continue to free fall at LAX and nearby areas. Safest it has ever been. ^^

In the category of Part I crime, which includes all major categories of crime against persons, no robberies were reported from January through June this year compared to one in 2008. There was one aggravated assault reported in mid-year 2010 resulting in an arrest, compared to none in mid-year 2009. No homicides or rapes were reported in mid-year 2010 or 2009, results show.

http://www.argonautnewspaper.com/articles/2010/08/26/news_-_features/lax/l1.txt

The Airport Police also patrol the surrounding neighborhoods, an area that includes most of the fast food outlets, hotels, and car rental agencies. The Los Angeles Police Department also patrols the areas immediately north, east, and west of the airport.

You can view LAPD's map of virtually nonexistent push pins on the LAPD Crime Map (http://lapdcrimemaps.org) web site. The map only depicts crimes committed during the last 7 days. For example you could enter "1 World Way" to center the map on the airport, or "5757 W Century" for the airport hotels.

This PR baloney appears to be part of the Airport cops campaign against being merged into the LAPD (look at how great we are doing) where they might have to actually do something other than take naps in the backrooms of the airport.

I wonder what the real crime rate is?

This PR baloney appears to be part of the Airport cops campaign against being merged into the LAPD (look at how great we are doing) where they might have to actually do something other than take naps in the backrooms of the airport.

I wonder what the real crime rate is?


You state point blank that it's PR baloney, but then say you don't know what the real rate is. You can, of course, express skepticism, even based on anecdotal evidence, but you really don't know if it's inaccurate, do you? I am impressed that you gained access to the backrooms of the airport, since you report authoritatively that the airport cops mainly take naps in those rooms. I'm sure you wouldn't impugn their professionalism without evidence.

Note OP does say it is the result of blanket coverage by police in the immediate vicinity of the airport (no city likes reports of tourists being mugged near their biggest airport, so it's often a priority area for police). That is not the same thing as saying crime is radically down everywhere (I don't know if it is or not). There's not that much foot traffic around the airport hotels, and not many residences for a while. It actually makes sense that crime is low close-by (fewer targets of opportunity, and a traveler who gets their wallet lifted just before a flight might not take the time to report it). We recently stayed at the LAX Radisson and saw an LAPD car parked on the street, near the airport's entrance, 24-7. We walked to the nearby consolidated bus stop center during the day but I probably wouldn't do it at night.

Yeah, guess there is some impuning going on. :D

Ten seconds on google will turn up plenty of stories about the L.A. Airport Police and their clownish activities. see for example: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_15815534?nclick_check=1

If you want to think the L.A. Airport cops are great, go right ahead.

But, next time you are at LAX take a good look at 'em.

Anybody who believes the "statistics" of an agency which has, so far, fought off six (count 'em, six!) (and is arming for the seventh) attempts to merge it with the regular PD to eliminate the inefficiencies of having two police department covering the same area and the high costs (and low work levels) of the Airport cops should reexamine the settings on their skepticism meter. @:-)

"The committee also learned that two LAX police officers -- caught on tape using working hours for leisure activities -- have been recommended for firing, and that the total number of officers being investigated in the case will likely rise from 13 to 15.

The incident is one of several in recent months that led to increased scrutiny of the LAX police and wider consideration for a proposal to absorb them into the LAPD. The proposed ballot measure would eliminate a city charter provision that requires the airport and harbor departments to maintain independent police forces."
from: http://www.realpolice.net/forums/police-officer-headlines-76/26396-lapd-lax-merger.html

I do admit that the Airport cops are good at zapping 78 year olds--if that is a desirable thing.
http://www.jrrobertssecurity.com/security-news/security-crime-news0022.htm

As LAPD Chief Bratton said in 2006:
"The LAWAPD currently lacks the stringent hiring and background standards of the LAPD. LAWAPD officers do not receive the extensive training afforded to LAPD officers, they are understaffed, and do not possess nor do they need the legal right to perform many of the essential duties that LAPD officers perform on a daily basis. They have a limited mission, and the powers they seek would diminish not enhance their focused efforts at the airport. The bottom line is that when faced with a major emergency, the LAPD resources far outweigh the resources of the airport police, both in terms of overall expertise and sheer numbers. The LAWAPD could never be sufficiently staffed to deal with emergencies and catastrophes that would require the much larger resources and capabilities of the LAPD. It would simply be too expensive to maintain."

http://lapdblog.typepad.com/lapd_blog/2006/06/sorry_la_times_.html

PS: If crime is non-existent, why do we need 423 of these guys around?

Also, I wish to announce to all (couldn't get the local press to carry this) that I am doing a really, really great job at work and should get a raise right away.

What about any arrested as charges of trespassing if someone who went to terminals without proper permission from LAPD. I believe those people who does not have SIDA badge. I believe it was not real specific time in LAX. I do realize know it was too many criminals who trying to accused stolen car from parking garage or if you see someone who trying to retrieve the bags out from baggage carousal. It will being caught the suspected who touching the bags at conveyer belts. They could go to jails for that. They will barred from the terminals for approximately 6 to 12 months. I wasn't aware of security surveillance cameras should have installed all terminals.

While I generally feel safe at LAX and the surrounding area, the numbers may not be 100% honest. The airport police can't seem to keep the charity scam artists and illegal cabs away which makes me think they do not have a full handle on crime.

The PANYNJ in New York was recently accused of underreporting crime (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/pa_covering_up_jfk_crime_cops_l8518f3p1AHqE8FNMAMu lI) to make their performance look better. Stolen items were reported as "lost" to keep theft numbers down. Odds are LAX police are doing the same.

The person so sure that the crime stats are wrong still hasn't brought up any evidence. Just that the cops there are goofing off. If the publicized states are so off, I assume any journalist worth their salt could find info to the contrary. It's been done in other areas. Their original assertion wasn't that the cops are incompetent or lazy but that the stats in the article are b.s. Maybe they are. Maybe the LAPD cops are doing a good job. Maybe they're all-- LAPD and LAX cops alike-- are bad and are lying about the crime numbers. But I still haven't seen actual evidence. The plural of anecdote is not facts.

While I generally feel safe at LAX and the surrounding area, the numbers may not be 100% honest. The airport police can't seem to keep the charity scam artists and illegal cabs away which makes me think they do not have a full handle on crime.

The PANYNJ in New York was recently accused of underreporting crime (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/pa_covering_up_jfk_crime_cops_l8518f3p1AHqE8FNMAMu lI) to make their performance look better. Stolen items were reported as "lost" to keep theft numbers down. Odds are LAX police are doing the same.

Maybe so but how do you make rubberies, assaults, and rape disappear? people should read the article I posted before commenting. The statistics released by police showed plenty of minor property crimes (petty theft and what not) but the main drop is violent crime. Homicide is down. Rape is down. Assualt is down. The area is safer... Quantifiable reduction in number of people killed or raped is pretty straight forward to interpret.

How to make disappear. It's simple. Call a murder something else.

Thus, the "murder" inside the security zone at LAX yesterday is quickly becoming a suicide. At least to the LAX cops.
http://losangelescriminallegalblog.com/2010/09/man-found-dead-in-lax-bathroom.html

Interestingly, as far as I can tell from the press reports, the LAX cops called the "real" L.A. cops to investigate the "suicide."