The warning is not hyperbole. So far this year, BHPD has handled over 47,000 calls for service, maintaining an average response time of just over 90 seconds. Yet, as Bond reports, seasoned officers are departing for neighboring departments offering $30,000 to $90,000 faster pay and hiring bonuses, leaving Beverly Hills critically understaffed.
Bond’s concerns are rooted in several troubling changes:
The full‑time bicycle patrol and undercover units have been dissolved, detective staffing has been slashed, the motor unit is effectively nonexistent, shockingly there is only one School Resource Officer assigned across all four public schools, and with the upcoming Metro stations at La Cienega/Wilshire and Wilshire/Rodeo set to open, staffing these high‑traffic zones 24/7 will challenge even well‑resourced departments. Bond warns that mounting events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics only compound the pressure.
This crisis didn’t emerge overnight. In mid‑June, the BHPOA conducted a vote of no confidence in Police Chief Mark Stainbrook, the first in the city’s history, with 78 % of participants expressing alarm over turnover, mismanagement, and misrepresentation of staffing data to City Council Council members are now negotiating a new contract, as the prior union agreement expired June 30, and deliberations continue under public transparency standards.
More recently, the BHPOA sent Chief Stainbrook a cease and desist letter, alleging he retaliated against President Bond by spreading false rumors that Bond “orchestrated” the vote, and allegedly engaging in defamatory conduct and interference related to Bond’s wife’s employment at BHUSD. The letter claims Stainbrook “engaged in a course of conduct intended to intimidate, discredit, and retaliate against President Bond” for his union role, creating a hostile work environment and chilling union activity—all in violation of state and federal law.
Bond’s message is not merely a plea, it underscores commonsense governance and community standards. Without competitive compensation, key units remain inactive, public spaces and schools go underprotected, and critical city events operate under precarious circumstances. He urges residents to make their voices heard, via SaferBeverlyHills.com, so the City Council enacts a responsible, competitive contract that retains experienced officers and restores essential services.
This is a defining crossroads for local public safety. The exodus of veteran officers, the disappearance of specialty units, the persistent staffing gap—and now allegations of retaliation from the police chief—threaten the fabric of Beverly Hills' civic life. It falls to the City Council to listen to residents and officers, and affirm their duty to community, stability, and integrity by acting swiftly. Doing so isn't just prudent, it’s responsible stewardship of public safety.
In the spirit of clear accountability and principled governance, Beverly Hills has an opportunity to reaffirm its tradition of excellence in municipal service. The time to act is now.
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