LAPD Metro Police Assigned to Protect Kamala Harris After Trump Revokes Secret Service Detail
Los Angeles, CA – September 4, 2025 – In a significant development, at least 14 officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s elite Metropolitan Division have reportedly been assigned to provide 24/7 protection to former Vice President Kamala Harris. This move comes in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke her extended Secret Service protection, a directive that has sparked widespread controversy and raised questions about the safety of high-profile former officials. The decision, effective September 1, 2025, has prompted California authorities to step in to ensure Harris’s security, particularly as she prepares for a high-profile book tour to promote her memoir, 107 Days.
Background: Trump’s Revocation of Secret Service Protection
Under federal law, former vice presidents are entitled to Secret Service protection for six months after leaving office. For Kamala Harris, this period ended on July 21, 2025. However, former President Joe Biden had signed a directive extending Harris’s protection for an additional year, until July 2026, citing heightened security concerns due to her historic role as the first woman and first person of color to serve as vice president. This extension was quietly enacted before Biden left office in January 2025, in response to ongoing threats and her elevated public profile following her 2024 presidential campaign.
On August 28, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum titled “Memorandum for the Secretary of Homeland Security,” directing the Secret Service to “discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law” for Harris, effective September 1, 2025. The decision was not accompanied by a new threat assessment or security review, according to a Secret Service official, and has been widely criticized as politically motivated.
The revocation of Harris’s federal protection has drawn sharp rebukes from California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Bass described the move as “another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation,” noting that it puts Harris at risk. Newsom’s office echoed this sentiment, with spokesperson Bob Salladay stating, “The safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses.”
LAPD Metro Division Steps In
In response to the abrupt end of Harris’s Secret Service detail, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has deployed at least 14 officers from its Metropolitan Division to provide round-the-clock protection for the former vice president. The Metro Division, known for handling high-risk assignments and dignitary protection, has stationed an unmarked vehicle at Harris’s Los Angeles residence, where she has lived with her husband, former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, for years.
Sources indicate that Metro officers have been reassigned from other cases to focus on Harris’s security, a move that has sparked debate among Los Angeles residents. Some taxpayers argue that Harris, who is no longer a public officeholder, should arrange private security, especially given her upcoming book tour. Others maintain that her historic role and the threats she has faced justify continued public protection.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is also providing dignitary protection for Harris, as confirmed by law enforcement sources. This arrangement was put in place following discussions between Newsom’s office and Mayor Bass to ensure Harris’s safety, particularly in Los Angeles. However, details about the duration of CHP and LAPD protection, as well as arrangements for Harris’s security during her travels outside California, remain unclear. An insider described these discussions as “complicated,” given the logistical challenges of coordinating protection across multiple jurisdictions.
Security Concerns and Harris’s Book Tour
The timing of Trump’s decision has raised alarms, as Harris is set to embark on a 15-city book tour starting September 24, 2025, to promote 107 Days, a memoir recounting her 107-day presidential campaign in 2024. The tour includes stops in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, and Toronto, where Harris is expected to draw significant public attention. Without Secret Service protection, which includes continuous threat intelligence and analytical support, Harris’s team and California officials face the challenge of ensuring her safety during these high-profile engagements.
Harris faced numerous security threats during her vice presidency, compounded by her historic status as the first woman and person of color in the role. These threats intensified during her 2024 presidential campaign, and former Secret Service officials have noted that her risk profile remains elevated. A recent Secret Service threat assessment reportedly found no credible evidence of an immediate threat to Harris, but critics argue that the absence of federal protection could leave her vulnerable, especially given the polarized political climate and recent incidents of political violence, including two assassination attempts on Trump during the 2024 campaign.
Political and Public Reactions
Trump’s decision to revoke Harris’s protection is part of a broader pattern of actions targeting former political adversaries and allies. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has ended Secret Service protection for several individuals, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Biden’s children, Hunter and Ashley. These moves have been criticized as retaliatory, with Los Angeles Mayor Bass stating, “This puts the former Vice President in danger, and I look forward to working with the governor to make sure Vice President Harris is safe in Los Angeles.”
Public sentiment, as reflected in some online discussions, is mixed. Some argue that Harris’s security should be privately funded, given her private citizen status, while others emphasize the moral and practical necessity of protecting a figure who remains a target due to her historic role and political prominence.
Looking Ahead
As Harris prepares for her book tour, California officials are working to ensure her safety through a combination of LAPD and CHP resources. The decision to assign Metro Division officers underscores the seriousness with which local authorities are approaching the situation. However, the lack of federal threat intelligence and the logistical complexities of securing Harris during her travels pose ongoing challenges.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s revocation of Harris’s Secret Service detail highlights broader questions about the protection of former public officials in an increasingly polarized political environment. As Harris continues her public engagements, the collaboration between state and local law enforcement will be critical to ensuring her safety, while the debate over the costs and responsibilities of such protection is likely to persist.
