L.A. City Council Committee Votes to Accept Philip Morris Donation
The Public Safety Committee of the Los Angeles City Council voted on Monday, April 9, to allow the LAPD to accept a $50,000 donation from Philip Morris to help defray the costs of an investigation into the cigarette counterfeiting. The donation still requires approval of the full City Council. As reported by CBS News, Councilman Bernard Parks, a former Los Angeles police chief, stated that industry contributions to investigative expenses are not without precedent. The motion picture and recording industries have helped fund LAPD piracy
investigations. Similarly, the Automobile Club of Southern California has helped pay for LAPD investigations into auto theft and realtors have footed the bill for real estate fraud investigations.The donation was on the Committee's April 2 agenda, but action was postponed a week to allow for further study.