A Los Angeles City Council member is drawing criticism from police for demanding a $150 million cut to police funding while receiving round-the-clock private security from the LA Police Department.
LA City Council President Nury Martinez called the cut to police funding despite the fact that an LAPD unit staffed by two officers, which has reportedly cost the taxpayers thousands, has been stationed outside her home from April to June, according to Spectrum News 1.
“While one LA Councilmember was introducing a motion to cut $150 million in #LAPD funding, that official also had round-the-clock private security provided by the department at their home,” Spectrum News reporter Natalie Brunell tweeted Monday. “@LAPPL calls it hypocrisy, adding it may have cost taxpayers around $100k. @SpecNews1SoCal”
While one LA Councilmember was introducing a motion to cut $150 million in #LAPD funding, that official also had round-the-clock private security provided by the department at their home. @LAPPL calls it hypocrisy, adding it may have cost taxpayers around $100k. @SpecNews1SoCal pic.twitter.com/lrrRC65oj1
— Natalie Brunell (@natbrunell) June 8, 2020
Martinez recently responded to the death of George Floyd by calling it a “social and racial justice crisis of epic proportion” and called for massive cuts to the LAPD, which some officers view as hypocritical considering the security they have provided for her.
“It’s kind of ironic. Here she is demanding $150 million be reallocated from the police budget, but yet she has security at her house by the Los Angeles Police Department,” director of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, Jamie McBride, said about Martinez.
McBride spent more than five years working for the division that serves Martinez’s neighborhood.
“It’s disgusting,” McBride added. “For two officers in front of a residence since April, you’re probably over $100,000 of the people’s money.”
The security detail began April 4 and was posted in front of Martinez’s home 24 hours a day, but the overnight security was cut back on May 6. The detail was canceled Thursday night when Spectrum News first reached out to Martinez’s office regarding the alleged hypocrisy.
A spokesperson for Martinez released a statement saying that the police were standing guard outside of her house because of death threats.
The LA City Council’s plan to slash the police budget comes as Democratic politicians and celebrities across the country have called for the defunding and disbanding of local police departments following the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man, while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously voted to “disband” the police force in a move that was supported by Minneapolis congresswoman Ilhan Omar, as well as several Hollywood celebrities and media personalities.
