LA City Council approves LAPD labor contract

The 11-1 vote, with Councilman Bernard Parks opposed, sealed a contract that will save taxpayers an estimated $300 million over the next three years. And concessions made by the LAPD will help give rank-and-file officers their first pay raises since 2008.

"I have been hearing from the credit union that more and more officers are in danger of losing their homes and we need to make sure they are compensated," said Councilman Dennis Zine, a retired police sergeant.

"They have continued to make us safe as their costs have gone up. Assaults on officers are up and we are looking at 30,000 inmates being released from state prison. We need to make sure we keep officers on the streets."

But Parks, who once served as police chief, said he does not believe the contract will provide the expected savings.