Police Vacation Time Curbed to Step Up Patrols

Vacations for Anaheim police officers will be severely limited for several weeks because officials want to keep police presence high at resort areas.

Police Chief Roger Baker has announced that time-off requests will be reviewed by division commanders. Most will be rejected because the department wants officers patrolling the city’s tourist attractions after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said Police Sgt. Mike Hildago. “They want the full complement of officers to come in to work. They want officers to be . . . on heightened alert.”

No threats have been made to the city, he said.

Anaheim is the only city in the county to institute the policy, which will end in early January. Time off that has already been approved will be honored, Hildago said.