Cops in Central Library (Los Angeles: school, floor, homeless)

[Harrier]

I got my Los Angeles Public Library card recently - and think that the Central Library in downtown L.A. is the best library at which I have been a patron - it is really great! My question is - why is their such a pronounced police presence? Everywhere i go in the library - at the entrance - around the circulation area - down in the escalator/staircase - their are cops who are obviously on duty just watching. I understand a security prescence at the doors to prevent book theft but is the massive police presence really neccesary? I understand that homeless people hang out inside the library - but they never bother me and the cops seem to be oblivious to them - which is fine. Have their been a lot of assaults at the library? I'm curious, because there is this jewel of a building and source of literature in the middle of the city - and yet the police presence seems to put a damper on the experience. Are they really neccesary? I will keep coming back to the library - I just want to know the reason for the cops being stationed there.

[Siphon880cd]

There ought to be cops. Last time I went to the Central Library, I was traumatized in the restroom. A homeless man in nude with his private part hanging out started lecturing to me about true history and the Illuminati, etc. I've got out of there but no one was on that floor for me to report him!

[SlowMotionApocalypse]

There is a persistent problem with theft there. There are occasional undercover stings. Might just be a temporary show of force to send crooks elsewhere.

Arrest made in Central Library laptop theft sting - latimes.com

Central Library attracts thieves - Los Angeles Times

April Fool's Day arrest at Central Library is no joke - latimes.com

[Lumerian Feast]

Because there are a ton of homeless in that area that would do some pretty nasty stuff (theft, prostitution, using the whole place as a bathroom...). As you can see from the post above, they already do some stuff -- but it would be way more. OP, you say that the homeless you see don't cause too much trouble there -- that's b/c of the cops!

[genjy]

The Central Library used to be my spot when I ditched school in HS--and I was there quite often.

The library looks grand, but it's actually full of vagrants and homeless looking for a place to relax in the daytime.

They don't usually cause trouble because they are just there to read and use the public computers, but the police is there to keep a tab on them.

Don't touch the computers on the first floor book room (the room with the multi-language shelves). That's where most smelly people use to browse the internet.

And yeah, watch your laptops and bags because someone can just walk by and swoop them up.

[Chicano3000X]

Originally Posted by genjy

The Central Library used to be my spot when I ditched school in HS--and I was there quite often.

The library looks grand, but it's actually full of vagrants and homeless looking for a place to relax in the daytime.

They don't usually cause trouble because they are just there to read and use the public computers, but the police is there to keep a tab on them.

Don't touch the computers on the first floor book room (the room with the multi-language shelves). That's where most smelly people use to browse the internet.

And yeah, watch your laptops and bags because someone can just walk by and swoop them up.

I wonder if LA will ever cure it's homeless problem..

[genjy]

Originally Posted by Chicano3000X

I wonder if LA will ever cure it's homeless problem..

Probably not in our lifetime since the City of LA seems to be really proud of Skid Row as some kind of cultural symbol.

I am sure there are plenty of poverty pimp and human rights organizations out there that would fight to make sure that homelessness isn't eliminated from DTLA.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

I can't speak about the L.A. Central Library, but when I was last in the SM Main Library a few years ago, it was a total freak show and I was grateful there was a police presence.

[415_s2k]

Originally Posted by genjy

Probably not in our lifetime since the City of LA seems to be really proud of Skid Row as some kind of cultural symbol.

I am sure there are plenty of poverty pimp and human rights organizations out there that would fight to make sure that homelessness isn't eliminated from DTLA.

I wouldn't say that it's a source of pride... hell, exactly the opposite: it's a source of shame for most Angelinos, and an example of how ineffective the LAPD is. They should be doing what they can to break up skid row, but they're too busy wasting money on settlements for their meathead officers beating the crap out of innocent people, and wasting man-hours tackling really tough issues like pulling over average people for little or no reason to give them tickets, since they know that an average working stiff will pay whereas that pimp will just wait to spend a week in jail to get four bench warrants out of the way at once.

In any case... as others have mentioned, it's to try to keep instances of theft down, as well as to keep homeless people from using the library as a bathhouse and motel.

[Raziel]

Originally Posted by Harrier

I got my Los Angeles Public Library card recently - and think that the Central Library in downtown L.A. is the best library at which I have been a patron - it is really great! My question is - why is their such a pronounced police presence? Everywhere i go in the library - at the entrance - around the circulation area - down in the escalator/staircase - their are cops who are obviously on duty just watching. I understand a security prescence at the doors to prevent book theft but is the massive police presence really neccesary? I understand that homeless people hang out inside the library - but they never bother me and the cops seem to be oblivious to them - which is fine. Have their been a lot of assaults at the library? I'm curious, because there is this jewel of a building and source of literature in the middle of the city - and yet the police presence seems to put a damper on the experience. Are they really neccesary? I will keep coming back to the library - I just want to know the reason for the cops being stationed there.

What would more of a "damper" on your experience a smelly vagrant flashing you or a police officer ensuring that you aren't being flashed, robbed or assaulted?