The chairman of the Los Angeles City Council's Public Safety Committee praised the police union Wednesday for urging a freeze on hiring new L.A.P.D. officers - even as Police Chief Charlie Beck denounced it. Its the first time the politically powerful union has challenged Beck, who is popular with the rank and file.

For years, the union that represents L.A.P.D officers pushed for more police hiring.

But as the city cuts back on overtime and assigns more cops to civilian jobs that are vacant at the department, union leaders now say they want a hiring freeze.

L.A. City Council Budget Chair Bernard Parks shares that view; he noted that the city continues to face budget deficits that already have forced layoffs and library closures.

"If we do everything perfect this year - the money comes in as projected, we spend within budget - we still face between three and four hundred million dollar deficit next year," Parks said.

Parks said without a police hiring freeze, the city will have to make deeper cuts elsewhere.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief Charlie Beck oppose a hiring freeze.

Beck says more cops mean less crime, even if his overtime cuts have reduced the number of patrol hours. He called the notion of paying overtime instead of hiring to maintain the size of the department unrealistic.

"Overtime is an $80 million a year ticket. The total hiring package for all of last year is less than 10 million," Beck told KPCC's Shirley Jahad. "If I have my choice, with my limited funding, then I have to go with hiring."

Beck also noted that the L.A.P.D. is half the size per capita of New York.

"We handle a much larger population. And a much larger geography. So I can make due, but I can't make due with less," he said.

He may have to. Councilman Parks said the new position of the politically powerful police union could carry weight with his colleagues who've been reluctant to shrink the L.A.P.D.

"If they truly want to pursue this like they do when they really want something, it could make an impact," Parks said.

The chief and mayor have vowed to fight the union's proposed hiring freeze.

The council's unlikely to address the issue until next month.