LA Councilors Use Office Funds To Increase Police Presence

Los Angeles Police Department officers wear facial covering while monitoring an "Open California" rally in downtown Los Angeles, on April 22, 2020. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES—Some members of the Los Angeles City Council used their districts’ funds to pay the Los Angeles Police Department for increased presence and patrols in their districts, it was reported Dec. 14.

Councilman Joe Buscaino used Council District 15 funds to provide police with $1.3 million for overtime to address crime in his district, including $500,000 for foot patrols in San Pedro and more than $785,000 for patrols in Wilmington, the Los Angeles Times reported.