Group Offers To Cover Costs Of LAPD Event With Ex-Mexican Mafia Leader

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — A nonprofit group of business leaders who attended a controversial LAPD-organized event featuring a convicted ex-leader of the Mexican Mafia has offered to reimburse the department's costs, officials said Monday.

KNX 1070's Maggie McKay reports the Young Presidents' Organization has apparently contacted Police Commission President Steve Soboroff asking for an invoice for "any and all expenses" stemming from the security provided at last week's event in downtown L.A.

According to Soboroff, initial estimates for the cost of Wednesday's meeting - which required 23 elite LAPD officers to secure the downtown Los Angeles building in which the event took place - could range from anywhere between $15,000 to $25,000.

Rene Enriquez, 52, reportedly gave a PowerPoint lecture to a number of Southern California police chiefs and business leaders as part of the event.

Enriquez told parole commissioners he received $200 a week from work with the FBI and ATF and uses the money to help "pay the mortgage and put the kids through school", the Associated Press reported.

Soboroff, who heads the department's civilian oversight board, said he still has a number of questions about the event.

"Weren't there red flags here? Why did this happen?" he said. "It doesn't matter that he was up for parole."

Mayor Eric Garcetti said he was "surprised" by the meeting and said LAPD officers's first priority must be service to the community.

"I wasn't notified of this," he said. "I want my officers out on the street protecting our community, not protecting a convicted felon."

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