LAPD Responds To Citizen and Business Outcry, Increases Ocean Front Walk Patrols

A dog stands guard next to two sleeping transients at 8 a.m. at Breeze and Ocean Front Walk.

On Saturday night there was an increase in LAPD radio calls coming from Ocean Front Walk starting at around 11 p.m. There were several arrests so we contacted the Pacific Division to inquire about the activity. We spoke with beach Sergeant Laura Curtin and she told us that as a result of a dramatic increase in reports from residents and business owners along Ocean Front Walk regarding the looming number of transients camping at night, they have simply increased their foot patrols of officers already on regular schedule at the beach. She said the number of eye witness complaints regarding narcotics, prostitution, aggressive pan-handling and animal welfare has seen a dramatic increase in the past month.

Saturday night officers on beach patrol gave out numerous citations for open container violations, sleeping in the park area and beach, and animal violations. The patrol also turned up a felony arrest of a parolee at large, a warrant arrest, and an arrest of someone with an active “stay away” order from the beach. An area of critical concern is for the animals owned by the growing population of transients. “These dogs are often naturally protective, and territorial” said Sergeant Curtin, “As they get older and used to an area, they will defend it. With the growing number of aggressive dogs it is just a matter of time before another animal or a human is seriously hurt.”Citations were written for animals without a license and without proper vaccination records.

On Saturday morning a small dog owned by a transient was off leash, and was struck and killed on Ocean Front Walk by a Recreation and Parks vehicle. The small dog was not properly attended to by the sleeping group and was running around off-leash, and not easily in view of the driver. The transients became angry, surrounded the truck and were screaming in such a way that surrounding residents called the police thinking someone had been shot.

We asked if this increase in foot patrols will continue, and were told that with the rising level of concern by residents, LAPD will continue to investigate the activity along the boardwalk and write citations for violations, and issues that impact public safety.