(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)The debate over what role police should have in enforcing traffic safety comes amid an alarming yearlong rise in road deaths and injuries. It illustrates both the promise and the challenge of removing armed officers from traffic safety duties. Local officials, he said, need to find an approach to traffic safety that doesn't repeat the harm of past efforts. "If DOT [Los Angeles Department of Transportation] were to pick that work up, I think we'd welcome it," he said. The city Traffic Department already employs civilian "traffic officers," who direct traffic and enforce parking restrictions, according to the report.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 15, 2023 15:30 UTC