Voter approval of LAPD is stronger than at any point in the last two decades, according to a Los Angeles Times poll of 1,500 registered voters in Los Angeles.

The widespread voter approval of LAPD is gratifying and not surprising. The high degree of public support for LAPD officers is a testament to the dedicated men and women who work day in and day out to establish relationships with residents on our streets and in our neighborhoods. We appreciate that residents are recognizing the more than 9,800 men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism and devotion to duty.

The Times poll results come at a good time. It further validates the League's efforts to promote full funding for law enforcement in all of our neighborhoods. Over the past four years, the City of Los Angeles has enjoyed unprecedented crime decreases not seen in decades, due to the hard work of the men and women of the LAPD. At the same time, by any objective measure, Los Angeles continues to be under-policed for its population and geographic size. Thus, reducing law enforcement presence in the city is not an option and could further erode the city's fragile economy by reversing the current crime-rate reduction trend.