Baca Ends Plans for Rose Parade Float in 2001

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said Friday that his department will not enter a float in next year’s Tournament of Roses parade, even though his staff previously agreed to participate in the event through 2002.

Baca said he wanted a Rose Parade float this year to commemorate the department’s 150th anniversary. “There would be no reason to do it again,” he said.

Determined to secure a spot in this year’s event, department officials agreed to participate for three years. But that was before Baca realized how difficult it would be to raise private funds to finance the endeavor.

In addition to struggling to raise $230,000 needed for this year’s float, which depicted a giant genie, department representatives were continually at odds with members of the Tournament of Roses, sources said.

At one point, tournament officials considered not inviting the department back to next year’s parade. They changed their minds at the last minute, however, allowing Baca to make the decision on whether or not to return.