Mothers of crime victims and representatives of victims' rights organizations across the Southland will rally in front of City Hall to protest a recent round of Los Angeles Police Department budget cuts, critically endangering homicide investigations.

The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that the LAPD is restricting overtime hours for homicide detectives, forcing them to delay witness interviews and forgo leads in the critical first hours after a murder.

"We understand the budget crisis going on in our community, but our murdered sons and daughters have been victimized enough and they should not have to pay for political figures' poor budget planning," said LaWanda Hawkins, founder of Justice for Murdered Children and mother of Reggie, who was murdered in 1996. "We must find a way so that homicide cases can continue to be solved."

Deputy Chief of Operations, South Bureau Division, Patrick Gannon and Lieutenant Brian Johnson with the Los Angeles Police Protective League will also attend the rally to voice their concerns for crime victims.

"The Los Angeles Police Department is committed to providing the resources necessary to solve homicides that occur in the City of Los Angeles," Gannon said. "Budget issues, specifically overtime constraints, have caused the police department to adjust resources to ensure that homicide investigations are investigated appropriately."

Other organizations at the rally include Parents of Murdered Children, Justice for Homicide Victims, Mothers on the March, Drive by Agony, the Los Angeles Detective League and the Los Angeles Community Policing. The organizations will continue to protest with candlelight vigils throughout National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 18-24.