safety
Southern California will need 24,000 officers for the 2028 Olympics
By Eric Leonard at NBC Los Angeles (KNBC)
· July 8, 2026
· 3 min read
Security planners for the 2028 Olympics have estimated at least 24,000 police officers will be needed over the 66 days of the events to protect venues across Southern California, and plans are in motion to bring in extra help from around California and the rest of the country.
The LAPD will be...
Key takeaway “That leaves a staffing gap of approximately 4,400 officers per day,” said LAPD Commander Mario Mota, who heads the Major Events Group and is managing security planning for the games.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The estimated need for 24,000 police officers to secure the 2028 Olympics raises significant concerns about the strain on local law enforcement resources. With the LAPD only able to provide roughly one-third of the needed officers, the department will have to rely heavily on external help. The proposed bill to authorize the hiring of out-of-state police officers may help fill the staffing gap, but it also poses logistical challenges, such as ensuring these temporary officers are familiar with California laws and Los Angeles ' specific needs. The city's ability to host a safe and successful Olympics will depend on the effectiveness of this external support, making it crucial for local authorities to carefully plan and coordinate with state and national agencies to meet the massive security demands of the event.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 8, 2026 ·
Source: NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) ·
Reading time: 3 min
Get more The Los Angeles stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering safety and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Security planners for the 2028 Olympics have estimated at least 24,000 police officers will be needed over the 66 days of the events to protect venues across Southern California, and plans are in motion to bring in extra help from around California and the rest of the country.
The LAPD will be...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 8, 2026 by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Eric Leonard at NBC Los Angeles (KNBC). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter