Michael Jackson Memorial cost Los Angeles 1.4 million

July 10, 11:09 AMLA Celebrity Headlines ExaminerTiffany Warner

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City of Los Angeles officials report Michael Jackson's memorial service on Tuesday, July 7 at Staples Center cost $1.4 million, according to the Associated Press.

In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Department revealed $1.1 million will go to 4,173 police officers responsible for securing the Staples Center, Forest Lawn cemetery and various areas that attracted media and fans surrounding the memorial. The remaining balance includes traffic control and clean up costs.

Although the number is large -considering LA's $530 million deficit, a spokesperson for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says the final cost was "far less" than the initial estimate of $4 million.

In an attempt to help defray the costs, the City of Los Angeles has set up a Web page for tax-deductible donations from Michael Jackson admirers.

So far, fans have donated $17,000 through the site. The mayor's office is encouraging donors to be patient when using the site since the servers have crashed numerous times due to heavy volumes of traffic. 

Will you, or have you, made a contribution to the memorial? Please leave a comment below. 

For exclusive coverage of the Michael Jackson memorial, you must read:

• Michael Jackson Memorial - Part 1: Mourning crowd 'under control'
• Michael Jackson Memorial - Part 2: The program
• Michael Jackson Memorial - Part 3: My personal photos