Panel delays vote on Philip Morris donation

A City Council committee Monday delayed accepting a $50,000 donation to the Los Angeles Police Department from cigarette maker Philip Morris USA after Councilman Jack Weiss said he wanted more information.

Some groups have said the money raises questions about whether corporations believe they can get better police service by paying for it.

But Councilman Bernard C. Parks said the practice is not new; the film and recording industries give money to help with investigations into pirated DVDs and CDs.