Los Angeles’ elite police unit has ditched its babysitting gig for Kamala Harris. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Metropolitan Division, tasked with guarding the former vice president, pulled the plug Saturday after union backlash, as Fox News reports. Progressives may cry foul, but taxpayers aren’t here to bankroll VIP protection for political has-beens.
President Donald Trump revoked Harris’s Secret Service detail in August, leaving the LAPD to step in temporarily. The Metropolitan Division, a specialized crew meant for high-stakes operations, was assigned to Harris until the union cried foul. This saga exposes the left’s entitlement to endless perks while regular Angelenos dodge criminals.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League slammed the arrangement, arguing taxpayers shouldn’t foot Harris’ security bill. Their blunt stance -- “LA taxpayers should not be footing the bill for this ridiculousness” -- hits the nail on the head. Why should a multimillionaire politician get a free ride while streets go unpoliced?
Trump’s decision to yank Harris’ Secret Service protection came via a memo issued on Aug. 29, per a Harris spokesperson. No explanation was given, leaving room for speculation about political motives. The left’s outrage ignores that Harris’s extended protection was already a Biden-era favor.
Former presidents and their spouses get lifelong Secret Service details, but vice presidents typically get six months after leaving office. Joe Biden stretched Harris’ coverage by a year before leaving office, a move Trump swiftly reversed. This tit-for-tat smells like Washington’s usual score-settling, not a crisis.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Trump’s revocation an “act of revenge” that endangered Harris. Her melodramatic framing reeks of partisan spin, as if Harris faces unique peril warranting special treatment. Bass’s crocodile tears conveniently dodge the question of who pays for this protection.
The LAPD’s Metropolitan Division, part of its special operations group, was only meant to guard Harris temporarily. Bass herself admitted the plan was short-term, yet her office dodged questions from Fox News Digital. Transparency seems to vanish when progressive priorities are at stake.
The police union’s board celebrated the end of Harris’ protection, noting Metro officers are “back on the street fighting crime.” Their jab at Harris as a “multimillionaire failed presidential candidate” is a sharp reminder of misplaced priorities. Why divert elite cops to guard a private citizen?
Bass thanked the LAPD for “prioritizing the safety of all Angelenos,” including Harris, in a statement to the New York Times. Her platitude glosses over the union’s valid gripe: taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize a political elite’s security. The mayor’s sanctimonious tone won’t quiet the backlash.
By late August, the California Highway Patrol took over Harris’ security, as approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times that this shift was already in motion before the LAPD bowed out. Newsom’s team, predictably tight-lipped, offered only “we don’t comment on security arrangements.”
The Secret Service’s silence on the matter, ignoring Fox News Digital’s inquiries, adds to the murkiness. Harris’ security remains unclear after the LAPD’s exit, raising questions about who’s footing the bill now. Californians deserve answers, not more bureaucratic sidestepping.
Doug Emhoff, Harris’ husband, also lost his Secret Service detail in July, per the Wall Street Journal. The coordinated rollback of protection for Harris and her family suggests Trump’s memo was no fluke. Critics may howl, but selective outrage over security cuts ignores the bigger picture.
The union’s pushback resonates with Angelenos tired of seeing resources diverted from crime-ridden streets. Metro officers belong in neighborhoods, not trailing a former politician with deep pockets. Harris’ team hasn’t clarified how her security is now handled, leaving taxpayers in the dark.
Bass’s claim that Trump’s move put Harris “in danger” feels like a scripted talking point to rally the progressive base. If Harris’ safety is such a priority, why not tap her own wealth or campaign funds? The expectation that public resources should shield her indefinitely smacks of elite privilege.
This episode lays bare the left’s double standards: demand defunding police for the masses but cry foul when their own lose special treatment. The LAPD’s withdrawal is a win for common sense, putting officers back where they belong. Harris can figure out her own security -- Angelenos have bigger problems.
