WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — It can be challenging to keep the wheels turning at Danny Roman’s bike shop, Bikes & Hikes in West Hollywood. He first opened the store and bike tourism company 12 years ago. Since opening, Roman has been robbed over 30 times.

What You Need To Know

  • West Hollywood is patrolled by 60 LA sheriff’s deputies 
  • The West Hollywood City Council voted in June to reduce the number of sheriffs employed in the city, cutting two deputies by September, but adding one deputy to a nightlife and entertainment team
  • Locals spoke out during the City Council meeting about the sheriff’s budget and financial allocations — many voiced their frustration with the cost of hiring sheriffs
  • Mayor Lauren Meister voted against the change and said the city has been unfairly swept up in the defund the police debate happening across the U.S.

“It’s a good target for someone looking for drugs or something — they’ll grab a bike and it’s easy to sell it,” he said.

Roman and his team do their best to keep inventory safe, but sometimes it’s an uphill battle with little support.

Last year he was appointed as a public safety commissioner to help city officials better understand crime in West Hollywood. He said, after crunching the numbers, from his perspective, one thing is clear: local law enforcement isn’t working.

“From my experience as a business owner in West Hollywood — and I love police. I think they’re great — I just have not found police to be helpful, and I have found them to be extremely expensive,” Roman said.  

West Hollywood is patrolled by the LA Sheriff’s Department. There are currently 60 deputies who work in West Hollywood. Last year, the city paid the department over $20 million. The cost per deputy is over $300,000. In June of this year, the West Hollywood City Council voted, in a 3-2 decision, to reduce the number of sheriffs employed in the city. By September of this year, two deputies will be cut, however one deputy has also been added to a nightlife and entertainment team. The City Council may cut three further deputies next year.

Locals spoke out during the City Council meeting about the sheriff’s budget and financial allocations — many voiced their frustration with the cost of hiring sheriffs. The Mayor of West Hollywood Lauren Meister voted against the change. She said the city has been unfairly swept up in the defund the police debate happening across the U.S.

“Some people have taken a national issue and tried to make it our problem. I don’t think that’s fair. Our sheriff’s department in West Hollywood has historically worked very well with our City Council and our city staff. Again, are they perfect? No. Do they need additional training in some areas? Of course.”

West Hollywood currently employs security ambassadors who are unarmed — part of the Block by Block program. The council has voted to add 30 new ambassadors to the security team. While the security ambassadors are popular, some locals, like Robert Gerner, who works in West Hollywood, feel they can’t provide adequate protection.

“People on the bicycle patrols are going to be outgunned and not do what they are supposed to do, which is help keep citizens safe,” he said.  

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After the council’s vote, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva released a statement, writing, “we are disappointed that as part of the approved city budget, four deputies will be cut in the upcoming months.”

But others like Roman feel this is a positive change, and a chance for West Hollywood and business owners like himself to reimagine safety in the city.

“That’s what we are trying to do here, make a safer, more vibrant West Hollywood. Not make it more dangerous. That’s the last thing anyone here wants,” he said.