To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: STEPHEN SPRENGEL, CHIEF OF POLICE
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APPROVE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOR BASIC ACADEMY PEACE OFFICER RECRUIT TRAINING, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025 UNTIL TERMINATED BY EITHER PARTY
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Police Department utilizes several allied law enforcement agencies to train entry-level police recruits at 26-week basic academies that meet the requirements of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). One of these agencies is the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), under a previously executed Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Agreement (SLESA).
In December 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an updated Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to replace the prior SLESA, retroactive to July 1, 2025. The proposed MOA with LASD for its basic academy provides an additional option to the Police Department when enrolling recruits into a POST basic academy, but does not obligate the Police Department to solely utilize LASD. The cost of LASD’s 26-week basic academy is $7,832 per recruit.
BACKGROUND
The Police Department utilizes different POST-compliant regional basic training academies operated by allied law enforcement partners. These training partnerships include the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy, the City of Long Beach Police Academy, Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center Regular Basic Course, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). In addition to meeting the basic POST requirements, each of these organizations have dedicated training staff that exceed the minimum requirements and frequently graduate recruits well prepared for the challenge of the Department’s field training program.
On December 8, 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the proposed MOA to replace a previously executed Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Agreement (SLESA) for basic recruit training with LASD. This change requires approval of the presented MOA to utilize the LASD basic academy. The County Board action included the adoption of the retroactive July 1, 2025 effective date. While the County of Los Angeles is a critical regional partner, it is not practicable for them to negotiate terms and adjust effective dates in consideration of a single municipal partner. For this reason, we are requesting approval based on this retroactive effective date. Requests for updated pricing reflected in Exhibit A are pending. However, because the Police Department is not obligated to utilize the LASD academy, staff recommends approval of the MOA to preserve the option of using LASD for basic academy training if future pricing remains competitive with other available options.
The high volume of new officer hiring throughout the region has impacted access to the various POST basic training academies, making it important that the Police Department maintain the MOA with LASD. This allows for the flexibility to meet our community’s public safety needs in consideration of the considerable minimum lead time (26 weeks of basic academy, plus an additional six months of field training) required to train entry level police officers. The Police Department last sent a recruit to LASD’s 26-week basic academy in 2023.
COORDINATION
The MOA was approved as to form, but not content, by the City Attorney’s Office, as it was derived from the LASD required template.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for POST basic academy training for police recruits is incorporated in the annual operating budget for the Police Department. Under the MOA, the cost would be $7,832 per recruit for LASD’s 26-week basic academy. The City is not obligated to send any recruits to LASD for the basic academy.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Agmt - Memorandum of Agreement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
• Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Cover Letter, December 18, 2025