The Los Angeles Police Department has withdrawn officers from security duties at the home of Kamala Harris in Brentwood, California.
After President Trump rescinded her Secret Service protections last week, dozens of Metro Division officers had been stationed outside her residence. This change followed the quiet extension of security granted by President Biden.
By Saturday, those additional officers were no longer present, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The brief deployment had caused frustration within the LAPD, especially since some officers were redirected from crime-fighting efforts in the San Fernando Valley to provide protection for Harris. Some voices within the department expressed that it seemed unreasonable for police forces to prioritize a political figure when they are needed to safeguard the community.
Mayor Karen Bass has now instructed the LAPD to coordinate with the California Highway Patrol following Trump’s decision.
The union that represents the rank-and-file officers of the LAPD criticized the deployment, emphasizing that despite the reassignment of officers from patrol duties, crime remains a pressing issue in the area.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who must approve CHP protections, has not confirmed this arrangement. However, his office has stated that the safety of public servants should not be compromised by unpredictable political actions.
A recent report indicated that LAPD officers were on site at Harris’s home earlier this week, but that the city-funded security details were temporary. Harris also has the option to hire private security if needed.
Typically, a former vice president like Harris receives Secret Service protection for only six months, a stark contrast to the lifetime security provided to a sitting president.
The issue, involving taxpayer funding, brings to mind her brief presidential campaign in 2024, as she gears up for an international book tour promoting her memoir, “107 Days.”
A request for comment from Harris’s office went unanswered.
