Hard to keep LAPD at 10,000

The LAPD's Web site boasts a force of more than 10,000 officers -- the magic number sought by Chief William Bratton, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and others who say the agency has long been understaffed. Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

In reality, LAPD brass admits the force is somewhere south of that milestone -- despite massive recruiting efforts and a dire job market that has prompted a record number of applicants.

The discrepancy, officials say, is that more seasoned officers are retiring or leaving for other reasons -- an average of 40 a month -- than are being sworn in.