Although the very much needed, new Los Angeles Police Department Jail in downtown Los Angeles was supposed to be opening soon, progress may be halted by staffing and fiscal shortages.

The new jail was originally slated to open in March of 2008; however, there have been several construction delays. Now scheduled to open by February 1st, 2010, the new Metro Center Jail would need at least double the amount of officers of what’s currently needed at the existing Parker Center Jail in Los Angeles.

On any given shift at the new Metro facility, at least 62 detention officers would be required …