LAPD Scales Back Security for Kamala Harris After Backlash
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The Los Angeles Police Department has withdrawn specialized protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, following controversy over reallocating officers from crime suppression duties to safeguard her after Donald Trump suspended her Secret Service detail.
When Trump revoked federal protections for Harris—a break from the standard extensions occasionally granted to high-profile political figures—the California Highway Patrol stepped in to provide coverage. LAPD’s Metropolitan Division also temporarily deployed specialized units to assist, a move first reported by ABC7.
But the decision drew swift criticism. Critics argued that diverting officers from frontline neighborhood patrols undermined public safety. According to the Los Angeles Times, even within the LAPD, there were concerns about stripping officers from existing assignments.
Mayor Karen Bass, who initially approved the temporary support, announced a reversal under mounting scrutiny. “The plan was always to provide temporary support and I thank LAPD for protecting former VP Harris and always prioritizing the safety of all Angelenos,” Bass said in a September 6 statement.
The episode underscores the political sensitivities surrounding protective details. Before leaving office, President Joe Biden had extended Harris’ Secret Service protection past the usual six months granted to former vice presidents, citing credible death threats as she pursued her presidential campaign.
Trump, however, has repeatedly rolled back protections for political rivals, including former health official Anthony Fauci, according to Axios.
The decision also sparked heated commentary from the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers. In a sharply worded statement, the union dismissed Harris as a “multi-millionaire failed presidential candidate” and praised the redeployment of officers back to their crime suppression posts as “common sense.”
“Every now and then common-sense prevails and we are happy to report that the Metro officers assigned to protect the multi-millionaire failed presidential candidate are back on the street fighting crime,” the union said, adding with sarcasm that Harris could “start a GoFundMe campaign instead of mooching off Los Angeles taxpayers.”
For now, Harris remains under the protection of state authorities, with the CHP taking the lead in ensuring her safety. But the controversy has reignited debate over the balance between protecting high-profile political figures and maintaining police resources for local communities.
