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After Trump ordered the Secret Service detail to be pulled as of Sept. 1, the California Highway Patrol moved to fill the gap, assisted by specialized units from the LAPD's Metropolitan Division.
The latter move by the LAPD, at the behest of Mayor Karen Bass, was met with "heavy criticism within its own ranks that officers were being diverted from crime suppression" to protect Harris, according to the Los Angeles Times. Sources told the newspaper that Metro officers had to be drawn away from crime suppression work in the San Fernando Valley this week.
"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 statement Saturday.
The board of directors of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers, had blasted the decision to offer Harris special protection, and weighed in again on Saturday.
"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 in a statement provided to City News Service. "Maybe Ms. Harris can start a GoFundMe campaign instead of mooching off Los Angeles taxpayers."
Harris is also a former California senator and attorney general.
Former vice presidents typically receive Secret Service protection for at least six months after leaving office. Then-President Joe Biden had extended that period for Harris, his ex-running mate, to 18 months before he left office earlier this year, but Trump canceled that order in late August.
Trump defeated Harris in the November 2024 presidential election.
Copyright 2025, City News Service, Inc.
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