Olympic Police Station

“Olympic Police Station”
Koreans are concerned about the security vacancy
of the “cheongcheongyeonggi” Campaign for
respecting the police station including fundraising

The Korean community was overturned by the sudden news
that the local police station, which had been responsible
for the security of the Korean town in Los Angeles (LA), was
in danger of being closed.

According to the Los Angeles Korean Chamber of Commerce and the Korean Association on the 19th (local time), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) notified the Korean American community that the’Olympic Police Station’ that has jurisdiction over the Korean town could be closed due to the recent budget cuts.
LAPD Director Michael Moore announced that he was considering closing the Olympic police station at an online security conference with Asian Pacific residents, including representatives of the Korean American community, on the 17th

The crisis of closing the Olympic police station came from the two major events that hit the United States this year: protests against racism and the spread of a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19).
In late May, when George Floyd, a black man, was victimized by the harsh violence of white police, protests against racism took place across the United States, and in the aftermath, major municipalities cut their budgets for police reform

The city of Los Angeles is also considering a plan to cut an additional 50 million dollars (54.9 billion won) after cutting 150 million dollars (156.4 billion won) out of the LAPD budget in July.
In addition, it is known that the fiscal pressure of Los Angeles City is increasing due to the prolonged corona crisis, which is a major background for reviewing additional cuts in the police budget.
LAPD Director Moore said at a meeting that if the police budget is cut further, restructuring the police force and closing some police stations are inevitable.

Los Angeles Police are currently considering closing three of the most recently opened police stations, including the Olympic Police Station, among 21 police stations under its control.
It is reported that the LA Police will come up with budget cuts such as the closure of the police station and report it to the City of Los Angeles in January of next year, and the City of Los Angeles will decide the final policy by July of next year.

After the 1992 LA riots, the Korean American community promoted the establishment of a police station as a long-awaited project to maintain the security of Korea Town, and in January 2009, the result of attracting an Olympic police station was achieved.

However, when the unexpected news that the Olympic police station could disappear after 11 years of opening was delivered, the Korean American community was struck by an atmosphere as if it had been struck by lightning.
Korean-American organizations set up an emergency countermeasure mechanism for the preservation of the Olympic Police Station in one day.

Kang Il-han, chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who served as the chairman of the large scale committee, said, “The Korean town was a safe and vibrant place in LA, but the news was suddenly sent to me. If the Olympic police station disappears, there could be a big security gap in the Korean town.” I was concerned.

The Los Angeles Korean Association also issued a statement, saying, “The crisis of closing the Olympic police station is a big shock to the Korean community,” and said, “If the Olympic police station disappears, it will be a disregard for the Korean community.”
The Korean Association decided to launch a petition campaign against the city of Los Angeles and the city council, and to raise money to support the Olympic Police Station.

Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley Thomas, who has Koreantown as its district, also issued a statement and said that the Olympic police station should not be closed without collecting opinions from the Korean community.

The Koreantown merchants were worried about it.
One restaurant owner complained, “I am worried that customers will be cut off more if even the Korean town security becomes unstable in a situation that has suffered a lot of damage from the Corona 19 incident this year.”

A Korean real estate brokerage business said, “Koreatown has a higher population density compared to other parts of Los Angeles, and the residential population is growing even more as apartments are newly built.”

The Consulate General of Los Angeles decided to engage in diplomatic activities to preserve the Olympic police.
An official at the Consulate General said, “Although the city of Los Angeles is a policy decision to reduce the LA police budget and close the police station, the closure of the Olympic police station is also related to the protection of overseas citizens, so we will actively work to ensure that the police station survives by fully operating diplomatic channels.” said.

From: En24news

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