📍 Los Angeles, CA — The Los Angeles Police Department has officially withdrawn its protective detail for former Vice President Kamala Harris, following internal and public criticism over the diversion of officers from crime suppression duties to personal security assignments.
The move comes after President Donald Trump revoked Harris’s extended Secret Service protection in late August, cutting short an 18-month extension granted by President Joe Biden that would have lasted until July 2026. In response, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass directed LAPD’s elite Metropolitan Division to assist the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in safeguarding Harris at her Brentwood residence.
🚨 Controversy Over Police Deployment
The temporary LAPD detail, which reportedly involved a dozen officers, sparked immediate backlash from within the department and the public. Officers were pulled from active crime suppression efforts in the San Fernando Valley, prompting concerns about public safety and resource prioritization.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing rank-and-file officers, issued a scathing statement:
The union also criticized Mayor Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, suggesting that if political leaders wanted to support Harris, they should do so with personal or campaign funds—not taxpayer dollars.
🛡️ Security in Flux
LAPD’s withdrawal leaves Harris’s security arrangements uncertain as she prepares for a 15-city book tour promoting her memoir 107 Days, set to begin September 24. While CHP may continue to provide some level of protection, sources indicate Harris is expected to hire private security soon.
A spokesperson for LAPD described the initial deployment as a “temporary coordinated effort” to prevent a lapse in security following the abrupt end of federal protection. However, the department has since ceased involvement, and LAPD officials declined further comment on the matter.
đź“š Political Undercurrents
The episode underscores the political tensions surrounding Harris’s post-vice-presidential status. Trump’s decision to revoke her Secret Service detail has been widely interpreted as politically motivated, with critics calling it “vindictive” and “erratic”. Governor Newsom’s office responded by emphasizing that “the safety of our public officials should never be subject to political impulse”.
As Harris steps back into the public spotlight, the debate over who should bear the cost and responsibility of protecting former high-ranking officials continues to simmer—especially when local law enforcement resources are stretched thin.