LAPD Union Group Says Police Learned Of Proposed Budget Cuts Via Twitter

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - The Los Angeles Police Protective League says the union learned about the city's decision to cut $150 million from the LAPD budget from Twitter and not from city officials.

Last week, the L.A. City Council introduced a motion to reduce funding for the LAPD by up to $150 million following protests citywide and across the nation over the death of George Floyd.

The proposed bill cited both the "health and economic pandemic" of coronavirus and "a social and racial justice crisis of epic proportions."

In a statement from the Command Officers Association on the LAPPL website, the group "emphatically" condemned the Minneapolis PD for Floyd's death and called out by name the City Council members who introduced the cuts along with Mayor Eric Garcetti.

According to a statement , the union's leadership learned of the plan via social media.

"Instead of reaching out to the Command Officers Association as many council members have done in the past to address concerns or advise of their pending actions and allow for the opportunity to come together as professionals to discuss issues, Council Member Martinez simply tweeted their intentions," the statement said.

Martinez tweeted her support for the bill June 3, adding she wants the city to "reset our priorities in the wake of the murder of #GeorgeFloyd & the #BlackLivesMatter call that we all support to end racism."

The union statement pointed to advances made under the leadership of Chiefs Bratton and Beck and under current Chief Michel Moore in the areas of de-escalation, implicit bias training, and community engagement.

Police are also warning such cuts could hamper criminal investigations and shortchange the community programs which are dependent on overtime such as the homeless initiative and sex trafficking outreaches.

"We don't believe the councilmembers' assertion that all Angelenos have demanded change within our department, and we thank the thousands of community members who have personally reached out in show of support," the statement read. "We also don't believe that our department should be placed on a platform of public scrutiny for personal and political gain by a handful of individuals who believe they speak for all."

The city Budget and Finance Committee is set to host a series of meetings staring Monday evening on the proposed cuts.