LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized 112 sheriff's deputies to go to Washington, D.C., to aid in security for the presidential inauguration.
The final number was far fewer than originally proposed.
Sheriff Lee Baca had submitted a proposal to the board that would have sent 347 deputies to D.C., still below the 500 requested by the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department.
But Baca's proposal drew criticism Tuesday from county Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky, Don Knabe and Michael Antonovich, who expressed concern the county would wind up shouldering a portion of the cost and might result in under-policing here in Los Angeles County.
"I don't think we should shortchange our citizens by participating in this at this level," Antonovich said of sending 347 deputies.
Baca had opined that the trip would have no impact on day-to-day service in Los Angeles County. But the supervisors said they had trouble believing his claim.
The plan was presented last week with a $1.6 million price tag, but a revision by Sheriff Lee Baca put the cost at $1.2 million, all of it to be covered by the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department. Baca had also argued this mutual aid was good policy, adding that earthquake-prone Los Angeles may one day need the favor returned.
Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the D.C. police will pay for air travel, salaries, per diem and even cold-weather gear for the deputies.
