Los Angeles’ top police official has raised concerns about the city’s readiness to ensure security for the 2028 Olympics, pointing to a shortage of personnel and a lack of earmarked funding.
This cautionary note comes at a time when security issues have become a significant focus for large public gatherings nationwide.
During a meeting with the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell highlighted the absence of direct funding for his department, citing reliance on a communal security fund shared with other organizations, as reported by the New York Post.
“LA28 has confirmed there is no specific budget allocated for police or other safety measures,” McDonnell remarked. “While there is a general security budget, it does not extend to law enforcement needs.”
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg performed at the LA28 Olympic Games Handover Celebration in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for LA28)
“The available funds are intended for all agencies participating in the Olympics, not solely for the LAPD, and are chiefly allocated for police overtime pay,” he further explained.
The Olympics Special Events Unit has determined Los Angeles will need roughly 6,700 officers across eight venues during the 2028 Games, according to the report.
Police will also require an additional 700 to 800 patrol vehicles — a need that is not fully funded.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned city leaders that the department may not have enough resources to secure the 2028 Olympic Games. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)
Officials warned the department is already losing more than 500 officers per year to attrition, driving up overtime costs.
The LAPD expects to log roughly 1.4 million hours of overtime this year, contributing to a projected $16.5 million deficit, the report said.
While Olympic organizers have said the federal government will help handle security, given the Games’ designation as a National Special Security Event, LAPD officials pushed back on that claim, calling it “inaccurate.”
Democratic Socialists of America member and Los Angeles City Council member Eunisses Hernandez questioned whether the scale of police deployment is necessary.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell sounds the alarm on security challenges facing Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
“Do they all need to be cop cars?” she asked. “Can we not use school buses?”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the LAPD and LA28 for comment.
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