Philip Morris Donates $50k to LAPD

LOS ANGELES - Philip Morris USA has agreed to donate $50,000 to the Los Angeles Police Department to help pay for an investigation into counterfeiting of the company's cigarettes, according to a published report.

The funds, which were solicited by police Chief William Bratton, have drawn criticism from ethics watchdogs and others, who worry the deal opens the door for better services to go to crime victims who can afford to pay.

The City Council's Public Safety Committee on Monday postponed a decision on whether to accept the donationa from the from the Richmond, Va., company, which was endorsed earlier by the Police Commission.

Councilman Jack Weiss said he wanted to study the matter further. The committee is now expected to consider the donation next week.

In a letter to the company, Bratton said the department was requesting the funds to help pay for the ongoing investigation into the "illicit manufacture, transport, distribution or sale of Philip Morris USA products."

"I feel comfortable that the department can handle that in an ethical way, and can conduct the investigation in an objective and fair manner," Police Commission president John Mack said.

LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said there was no quid pro quo involved that would guarantee an outcome of the investigation in exchange for the money.

Such donations have been made before.

In the past, the motion picture and recording industries have helped fund police investigations into pirated goods, while the Automobile Club of Southern California has helped pay for LAPD investigations into auto theft and Realtors have paid for real estate fraud investigations, said Councilman Bernard Parks, the city's former chief of police.

But some ethics watchdogs criticized the request, saying it raises fairness concerns about whether wealthy crime victims should be allowed to pay for police protection that poor victims wouldn't be able to afford.

"It raises the unfortunate possibility that police are asking citizens and business to pay extra for protection ..." said Tracy Westen, chief executive of the Los Angeles-based Center for Government Studies.

Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, also questioned the police solicitation of funding.

A representative of Richmond, Va.-based Philip Morris didn't return a call for comment, but the director of its Brand Integrity Department said in a letter to Bratton that he approved the funding.

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http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/ http://www.lapdonline.org/

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)