LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department received $250,000 from Council District Five for overtime funding.  

LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the money will help fight crime. 

“There is still way and far too many guns and far too much violence in our city. And in different portions in our city — as the council member indicated — there are different problems and challenges and yet we have a smaller workforce with the challenges that are before us,” says Moore. 

As the owner of a local gift shop on Beverly Boulevard, Tara Riceberg has kept a watchful eye on retail crime in her neighborhood. She says she’s watched as neighboring stores have been victims of smash-and-grabs and gunpoint robberies. 

“I haven’t personally been a victim of these crimes, yet my neighbors have and what is bad for my neighbor is bad for me. If my customers don’t feel safe walking down the street to come to my store because the crime happened next door, it’s bad for all of us,” says Riceberg. 

According to the office of Councilman Paul Koretz, the LAPD is currently facing a deficit of 800 officers.