San Bernardino Attacks: $1M In Costs To City Stemming From Shooting

Since the terror attacks in San Bernardino, California, Dec. 2 that left 14 people dead, the city has increased its police presence and has had to spend big on the investigation into the shooting. Officials in the city — which declared bankruptcy in 2012 — have said the cost of the shootings has now gone up to between $800,000 and $1 million, a city spokeswoman said Monday, according to the Press-Enterprise.

The increased costs come from an increased police presence in the city, as well as costs from other departments, including fire, parks and public works. The City Council is expected to make a declaration of emergency Tuesday to get financial assistance for the city.

Responding to bomb threats, protecting government buildings and an increased police presence as a result of the shootings has depleted the resources of law enforcement and fire agencies in San Bernardino, the declaration is expected to state. The city is still recovering since Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, shot up a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center this month.

Officials hope the declaration will lead to state and federal funding to deal with the increased costs from the attacks, the Los Angeles Times reported. It was common in the days after the attacks for San Bernardino police officers to work 12-hour shifts, and the city’s police force was partly responsible for the investigation, although it is now led by the FBI.

San Bernardino County and the City Council in Redlands, where the shooters lived, are also scheduled to vote on if they want to make attack-related emergency declarations, which could lead to funding as well. "It hasn't been something that has strapped the county to the point where the county is feeling anything financially," San Bernardino County spokesperson David Wert told the Los Angeles Times.

"However, it is proper to, at the end of the day … make sure the proper funding is coming from the proper sources.”