LAPD Chief Beck to pay for Oscar tickets

LOS ANGELES According to a police department statement, it's been a long-standing practice for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to provide tickets to the police chief and others. But the statement adds that after considering the appropriate rules and a discussion with the academy, and because Chief Beck attended as a private citizen, a determination was made that Beck would pay for his tickets.

The department says it has contacted the Academy to determine the cost of the tickets and once it receives the information Beck will pay for the tickets from his personal funds.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is under investigation by the state's Fair Political Practices Commission, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and the city's Ethics Commission about whether he violated rules by accepting free tickets to entertainment and sporting events.

Villaraigosa has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, claiming he was allowed to attend events to promote Los Angeles as part of his job as mayor.

CNS Contributed to this report.