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Bell Mayor Says Death Threats Keep Him Away from Work, Cops Won't Protect Him
Hernandez' booking photo (LA Sheriff's Dept.)
Bell's mayor, Oscar Hernandez, says that he's been staying away from his "civic duties," including City Council meetings, because death threats have him "fearing for his life," according to LA Now.Hernandez says he has told the police, but "they don't want to give [him] protection." He adds that he does not trust Bell's police because he has voiced his support for "eplacing the department with Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, a move that would reportedly save the financially desperate city about $3.5 million a year."
Steve Finkelstein, the Bell PD Captain, stands by his officers, and lauds them as professionals who would not disregard their duties in the face of a dissenting opinion.
Hernandez's absences from Bell's City Council meetings has contributed to a consistent lack of quorum that has put civic affairs on hold. Adds LA Now: "It's unclear whether the council will be able to meet before next month's city elections, which likely will give the council a makeover."
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