Los Angeles County supervisors Tuesday said Sheriff Lee Baca's suspension of deputy overtime has dramatically reduced patrol operations and jeopardized public safety.
In a contentious meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Baca was attacked for ignoring the needs of unincorporated parts of the county in favor of cities that contract with his department for police services. They said his overtime cuts were disproportionately affecting unincorporated neighborhoods. Supervisor Gloria Molina went so far as to accuse Baca of "stealing" police resources from residents in those areas.
According to Baca's spokesman, the sheriff's budget — now at $2.8 billion — was cut by the board by $128 million in 2010, $96 million in 2011 and $140 million last year.
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