123-740: Metropolitan Division , commonly referred to as Metro Division or just Metro , is an elite division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) under its Special Operations Group. Metropolitan Division is responsible for managing the LAPD's specialized crime suppression, K-9 , mounted , and SWAT units, named " platoons ". Metropolitan Division is responsible for numerous duties including solving major crimes, search warrant service, dignitary protection , surveillance , counterterrorism , riot control , and resolving high-risk standoffs . The Metropolitan Division originated from
246-401: A Red Squad to combat labor unions; headed by Capt. William F. Hynes, the squad arrested hundreds participating in strikes. In March 1928, Christine Collins reported her nine-year-old son, Walter, missing. Five months later a boy named Arthur Hutchins came forth claiming to be Walter; when Mrs. Collins told the police that the boy was not her son, she was committed to a mental institution under
369-504: A grenade launcher ; however, it was never actually used. The fighting resulted in the wounding of four Panthers and four officers. All six arrested Panthers were acquitted of the most serious charges brought against them, including conspiracy to murder police officers, because it was ruled that they acted in self-defense. On the afternoon of May 17, 1974, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) barricaded themselves in
492-409: A police tactical unit , and originally created the term " Special Weapons And Tactics ". John Nelson was the LAPD officer who came up with the idea to form a specially trained and equipped unit in the LAPD, intended to respond to and manage critical situations involving shootings while minimizing police casualties. In 1967, Nelson's CO, then-Inspector Daryl F. Gates , approved this idea, and he formed
615-470: A "bite hold" in response to threatening or evasive actions made by a suspect. In 2021, there were 315 K-9 deployments with 305 finds. Of those 305 finds, 69 resulted in a person being bitten or injured by a dog which is termed as a contact, and 4 resulted in a dog bite or injury that required a person to be hospitalized which is termed as a categorical use of force incident. In 1990, the Liberty Award
738-531: A Commander, the office comprises four bureaus and 21 police stations, known officially as "areas" but also commonly referred to as "divisions". The Office of Operations also has a dedicated Homeless Coordinator reporting directly to the Assistant Chief. The 21 police stations are grouped geographically into four command areas, each known as a "bureau". The latest areas, "Olympic" and "Topanga", were added on January 4, 2009. The Office of Special Operations
861-556: A D Platoon officer shot and killed an armed suspect in Sunland-Tujunga from an LAPD Air Support Division helicopter . The helicopter was deployed after it was determined the suspect, who broke into a house and armed himself with the homeowner's gun, held a position that was too advantageous over officers on the ground. One year later, in May 2018, an LAPD internal review found 12 officers violated departmental policy for force during
984-673: A K-9 assignment at Los Angeles International Airport , which he claimed was deliberately picked to inconvenience him with the lengthy travel time required from his home in San Bernardino County . In 2022, following an internal investigation ordered by Chief Michel Moore , the LAPD released a report denying D Platoon had issues related to lethal force. The report found that of SWAT's 1,350 deployments between 2012 and 2022, only 105 deployments used any force (fatal and non-fatal), and that during that ten-year period, only 20 SWAT officers were involved in on-duty shootings. SWAT units as
1107-472: A Lieutenant II. The "M" Platoon performs the administrative and support functions. "B" and "C" Platoons are primarily responsible for crime suppression. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), "D" Platoon personnel, respond to emergency situations involving barricaded suspects or hostages. "E" Platoon (Mounted Unit), "K-9" Platoon, "H" Platoon (Headquarters) and the Underwater Dive Unit (UDU) make up
1230-424: A Section 12 internment. It was later determined that Walter had fallen victim to a child rapist/murderer in the infamous Wineville Chicken Coop Murders , and Arthur Hutchins admitted that he had lied about his identity to meet his favorite actor, Tom Mix . The widely publicized case was depicted in the 2008 film Changeling . When Frank L. Shaw was elected mayor in 1933, he reappointed Davis as police chief, and
1353-446: A coordinated crackdown: the police identified primarily-Mexican American communities, cordoned them off with blockades, and carried out mass searches and arrests. The police detained hundreds of Mexican Americans before indicting 22 for murder. Twelve of the defendants were charged with murder and incarcerated; all convictions were later overturned. Members of the LAPD were accused of participating in anti-Mexican American violence during
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#17327910703991476-519: A high-speed car pursuit on March 3, 1991. After seven days of jury deliberations , the jury acquitted all four officers of assault and acquitted three of the four of using excessive force. The evening after the verdict, thousands of people in the Los Angeles area rioted for over six days following the verdict. Widespread looting , assault , arson , and murder occurred, and property damages totaled one billion dollars. In all, 53 people died during
1599-487: A history of police brutality , corruption , misconduct and discriminatory policing within the LAPD. In 2001, the United States Department of Justice entered into a consent decree with the LAPD regarding systemic civil rights violations and lack of accountability that stretched back decades; following major reforms, the decree was lifted in 2013. The first police force specific to Los Angeles
1722-418: A policy that officers would have to turn on the cameras whenever they arrest or detain someone for interrogation and that many public interactions such as domestic violence interviews would not be recorded. Prior to the rollout of any body worn cameras, officers were able to carry personally owned audio recording devices since 1994 if they filed an application and obtained the requisite permission. As of 2023,
1845-455: A program that tries to give cadets a solid foundation in life and to help them prepare for careers by offering services such as tutoring and college scholarships. The cadets complete courses not only on law enforcement but also on citizenship, leadership, financial literacy and other different skill sets. Cadet's work positions include ride-alongs , crowd control, charity assistance, and working in stations. The cadet program has posts at all of
1968-436: A recording in which he referred to Mexican Americans as not being far from "the wild tribes of Mexico"; in the 1960s, he claimed that "by 1970, 45% of the metropolitan area of Los Angeles will be Negro" and that the city should support a strong police force because "if you don't, come 1970, God help you"; he described Black participants in the 1965 Watts riots as acting like "monkeys in a zoo". The Los Angeles Police Department
2091-412: A residence on East 54th Street at Compton Avenue. In response, more than 400 LAPD officers, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) deputies, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, and Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters surrounded the residence. Coverage of the siege was broadcast to millions via television and radio and featured in
2214-551: A result, homicides and assaults were greatly reduced. The program ended after two years, with violent crime rates returning to their previous levels. On July 1, 1992, John Daniels Jr., 36, a tow truck driver, was fatally shot by LAPD Officer Douglas Iversen as he was driving away from a service station in South Central. Iversen was charged with second-degree murder , the first officer to ever be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting. Two separate juries were deadlocked on
2337-476: A scout, and a rear-guard. The normal gear issued them included a first aid kit, gloves, and a gas mask. It was a major change at the time to have police armed with semi-automatic rifles, at a time when officers were usually issued six-shot revolvers and shotguns. The encounter with the SLA sparked a trend towards SWAT teams being issued body armor and fully automatic weapons of various types. The North Hollywood shootout
2460-487: A small select group of volunteer officers. This first SWAT unit initially consisted of fifteen teams of four men each, for a total staff of sixty. These officers were given special status and benefits, and were required to attend special monthly training. This unit also served as a security unit for police facilities during times of civil unrest. In 1971, SWAT personnel were assigned on a full-time basis to Metropolitan Division to respond to continuing action by militant groups,
2583-467: A speech writer; and he introduced the department's first press office. These efforts were seen as tied to his efforts to curry public favor and extend the reach of officers of the LAPD. Bloody Christmas was the name given to the severe beating of seven civilians under LAPD custody on December 25, 1951. The attacks, which left five Hispanic and two white young men with broken bones and ruptured organs, were only properly investigated after lobbying from
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#17327910703992706-415: A study was released that found that non-English-speaking callers to the 911 and non-emergency response lines often receive no language translation, often receive incomplete information, and sometimes receive rude responses from police employees. The issue of a lack of multilingual officers led to reforms including bonuses and salary increases for officers who are certified in second languages. Currently, over
2829-482: A third of LAPD officers are certified in speaking one or more languages other than English. The department also uses a device called the phraselator to translate and broadcast thousands of prerecorded phrases in a multitude of languages, commonly used to broadcast messages in different languages from police vehicles. LAPD patrol officers have a three-day 12-hour and four-day 10-hour workweek schedule. The department has over 250 types of job assignments, and each officer
2952-503: A whole became well known in the 1975 television series S.W.A.T. , which featured a SWAT unit loosely based on LAPD SWAT. In 2003, a film adaptation of the series starred Samuel L. Jackson , Colin Farrell and LL Cool J and was directed by Clark Johnson . In 2017, CBS created a new S.W.A.T. television series based on the 1975 series and the 2003 movie, starring former Criminal Minds star Shemar Moore ; unlike its predecessor,
3075-818: Is an office that was created in 2010 by then-Chief Charlie Beck . Headed by an Assistant Chief, the office comprises the Detective Bureau, the Counterterrorism and Special Operations Bureau, the Transit Services Bureau, and the Strategic Planning Group. The Detective Bureau also houses the COMPSTAT (Computer Statistics) Division which maintains crime data. COMPSTAT is based on the NYPD CompStat unit that
3198-458: Is eligible for such assignments after two years on patrol. LAPD patrol officers almost always work with a partner, unlike most suburban departments surrounding the City of Los Angeles, which deploy officers in one-officer units to maximize police presence and allow a smaller number of officers to patrol a larger area. The department's training division has three facilities throughout the city, including
3321-522: Is lined with green space. The complex provides space for about 2,300 workers, which let the department consolidate functions here which had been spread out across multiple locations. Up to the Gates administration, the LAPD was predominantly white (80% in 1980), and many officers had resided outside the city limits. Simi Valley , the Ventura County suburb that later became infamous as the site of
3444-618: Is maintaining selective enforcement details in high-frequency crime areas and targeting repeat offenders and criminal predators. Particular efforts are directed at the suppression of burglary, robbery, auto theft, and burglary/theft from motor vehicles. More recently, efforts have been aimed at attacking violent repressible crime. D Platoon is the LAPD's police tactical unit . It provides the LAPD with 24-hour coverage necessary for immediate response to barricaded suspects, snipers, crisis and hostage negotiations, potential suicide-related situations, and other high-risk incidents. SWAT currently operates
3567-693: Is supervised by a Lieutenant II Officer-in-Charge. One of the six Sergeant IIs serves as the Assistant Officer-in-Charge. The remaining five Sergeant IIs are Field Supervisors of the platoon. The platoon has three Police Officer III+1 Assistant Trainers and 15 Police Officer III Canine Handlers, all of whom are assigned a dog. Four of those officers are also assigned a second dog that can detect firearms and ammunition. The K-9 program trains dogs to "find and bark" when searching for suspects. Whereas other law enforcement agencies train their dogs to "find and bite". LAPD dogs are trained to only use
3690-525: Is the department's police explorer program. The program was formerly called the Explorer Program but was changed in 2009 after the police commission broke off its partnership with the Boy scouts over policies barring homosexuals, atheists, and agnostics from being troop leaders. The cadet program shifted focus from an old explorer program that tried to guide members to a career in law enforcement, to
3813-637: Is the highest law enforcement medal awarded to officers by the Los Angeles Police Department. The Medal of Valor is an award for bravery, usually awarded to officers for individual acts of extraordinary heroism performed in the line of duty at extreme and life-threatening personal risk. In a 2020 survey of Los Angeles residents, two-thirds said they believe the department is doing a good job maintaining public safety, while 88% supported community policing, 82% supported an unarmed response model, and 62% supported redirecting some money from
LAPD Metropolitan Division - Misplaced Pages Continue
3936-763: Is the third-largest municipal police department in the United States, after the New York City Police Department and the Chicago Police Department . The LAPD is headquartered at 100 West 1st Street in the Civic Center district . The department's organization and resources are complex, including 21 community stations (divisions) grouped in four bureaus under the Office of Operations; multiple divisions within
4059-638: The Rainbow Six series. All mainline entries in the series featured the LAPD SWAT and endorsements from the LAPD except SWAT 4 , which was set in a fictional East Coast city. Los Angeles Police Department The Los Angeles Police Department ( LAPD ), officially known as the City of Los Angeles Police Department , is the primary law enforcement agency of Los Angeles, California , United States. With 8,832 officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it
4182-521: The 2007 MacArthur Park rallies , a pair of May Day rallies at MacArthur Park demanding amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Riot control actions from the officers resulted in 27 protestors and nine media employees being injured, five people being arrested, and at least 50 civilians filing complaints regarding mistreatment. A $ 13 million settlement was paid over allegations of civil rights violations, and 17 officers and two sergeants from Metropolitan Division were disciplined for their actions. In May 2017,
4305-740: The Christopher Commission and it is exempt from civil service and reports directly to the Board of Police Commissioners. The current Inspector General is Mark P. Smith, who was formerly the Constitutional Policing Advisor for the LASD. The OIG receives copies of every complaint filed against members of the LAPD as well as tracking specific cases along with any resultant litigation. The OIG also conducts audits on select investigations and conducts regular reviews of
4428-705: The Downtown Los Angeles Civic Center district. It was demolished in 2019. The Police Administration Building, also known as the New Parker Center, replaced the original Parker Center in October 2009. It is located at 100 West 1st Street, also in the Civic Center, occupying the entire block between Main, Spring, 1st, and 2nd streets, immediately south of Los Angeles City Hall . Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall were
4551-632: The Ford Police Interceptor Sedan , Chevrolet Impala , Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban , among an assortment of other models. Police motorcycles are primarily the BMW R1200RT-P and Harley-Davidson FLHP . The LAPD SWAT's primary vehicle is the Lenco BearCat . In the early 1980s, the LAPD obtained two Cadillac Gage Commandos from the U.S. Department of Energy, in preparation for security for
4674-778: The Kimber Custom TLE II as their sidearms in 2002, renaming it the Kimber LAPD SWAT Custom II. As of 2014, SWAT's primary weapons were the Heckler & Koch HK416 , M4 carbine , and FN SCAR rifles; the Colt 9mm and HK MP5 submachine guns; the Armalite AR-10 , Remington 700 , Barrett M82 , and M14 sniper rifles; and the Benelli M4 and Remington 870 shotguns. After World War II,
4797-676: The LAPD Air Support Division . Main airship missions are flown out of Hooper Heliport , located near Union Station . The LAPD also houses air units at Van Nuys Airport . Beginning in September 2013, the LAPD started a trial program for the use of body-worn cameras with 30 officers in the Skid Row area. Reports from the trial program indicated that the cameras functioned well and that they assisted in deescalating situations although there were some technical issues with
4920-596: The National Institute of Justice , a branch of the Department of Justice . Before all of the cameras were deployed to patrol officers, the Police Commission created a policy that governs the use of the cameras and video footage while consulting with department and city officials along with outside organizations including other departments who already use body cameras. The commission has created
5043-595: The Reserve Unit , which on April 16, 1933, was combined with the Vagrancy Squad, Intelligence Bureau, and several details from the Chief's Office to form the division. In 1968, the division increased from 70 officers to approximately 200 officers. In 1997, the number of officers was increased to approximately 350 sworn officers and 16 civilian officers. On April 14, 2015, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced during
LAPD Metropolitan Division - Misplaced Pages Continue
5166-487: The Zoot Suit Riots that followed in 1943; despite the LAPD's insistence that the riots were caused by Mexican American crime, there was broad consensus that the riots were the result of racial discrimination. Parker, who served as chief of the LAPD from August 9, 1950, until his death on July 16, 1966, was frequently criticized for racist remarks, his refusal to acknowledge police brutality, and his demands that
5289-598: The 1943 Zoot Suit Riots . Horrall was replaced by retired United States Marine Corps general William A. Worton , who acted as interim chief until 1950, when William H. Parker succeeded him, serving until he died in 1966. Parker advocated police professionalism and autonomy from civilian administration. However, the Bloody Christmas scandal in 1951 led to calls for civilian accountability and an end to alleged police brutality. In 1965, under Parker, Officer John Nelson and then-Inspector Daryl Gates established
5412-473: The 1980s "biased policing", also known as racial profiling , was commonplace in the department. This policing alienated the department from minority residents and gained the department a reputation of abuse of power and bias against minority residents. A major controversy erupted in 1979 over the shooting of Eula Love by two LAPD officers; no legal consequences befell the officers responsible. Early in his tenure as Chief of Police, Daryl Gates re-instituted
5535-466: The 1990s, corruption, and misconduct within the LAPD were revealed to the public: the 1991 Rodney King beating led to the 1992 Los Angeles riots , while the 1997 Rampart scandal led to the disbandment of CRASH. Also in 1997, outgunned LAPD officers in North Hollywood were locked into a lengthy shootout with heavily armed and armored bank robbers , prompting police armament upgrades across
5658-890: The 1997 North Hollywood shootout , LAPD obtained M-16 rifles and officers were given the option of carrying the Smith & Wesson Model 4506 and 4566 service pistols. When William Bratton was Chief, he allowed officers to carry the Glock , the firearm carried in the two previous departments Bratton led (the New York City Police Department and the Boston Police Department ). The department presents several medals to its members for meritorious service. The LAPD awards medals for bravery, service, unit citations, ribbons for assignment and time-specific service, and marksmanship . The LAPD Medal of Valor
5781-491: The 2015 State of the City address that he would add more than 200 officers to division in an effort to control the crime rate which dramatically increased the year previously. This included a vehicle stop strategy being implemented by Chief Charlie Beck to address a spike in shootings in South Los Angeles . In 2016, the number of sworn officers in the division increased to 486. In 2019, the number of sworn officers
5904-579: The Detective Bureau under the Office of Special Operations; and specialized units such as the Metropolitan Division , Air Support Division , and Major Crimes Division under the Counterterrorism & Special Operations Bureau. Further offices support the Chief of Police in areas such as constitutional policing and professional standards, while the Office of Support Services covers facilities management, personnel, and training, among other areas. Independent investigative commissions have documented
6027-614: The LAPD began to issue the Smith & Wesson Model 10 . During the 1960s and 70s the department issued the S&;W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. These guns were modified to fire double-action only. Some specialized units (specifically Motor Officers) were issued the stainless-steel version, the Model 67. In the 1980s, LAPD patrol officers began to be issued the Beretta 92F and Smith & Wesson Model 5906 semi-automatic 9mm pistols. Following
6150-517: The LAPD hired the first female police officer with the power to arrest in the United States, Alice Stebbins Wells . LAPD's first Latina officer, Josephine Serrano Collier , was hired in 1946. On the LAPD through the early 1970s, women were classified as "policewomen". Through the 1950s, their duties generally consisted as working as matrons in the jail system or dealing with troubled youths working in detective assignments. Rarely did they work any field assignment, and they were not allowed to rise above
6273-635: The LAPD issues the FN 509 MRD-LE and Smith & Wesson M&P to all new officers, alongside a variety of Glock, Kimber, Staccato, or Beretta pistols. Officers are also issued long guns, including the Remington 870 and Benelli M4 Super 90 shotguns, as well as Smith & Wesson, Colt, or Bushmaster AR-15 rifles . LAPD also armed with machine guns like the M60 . The LAPD also has riot guns capable of firing 37mm munitions and bean bag rounds . The SWAT used
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#17327910703996396-543: The LAPD was "outwardly racist", and the tenure of police chief Daryl Gates (1978–1992) was marked by "scandalous racist violence" among the LAPD. Following the Rampart Division CRASH scandal of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the United States Department of Justice entered into a consent decree with the LAPD regarding systemic civil rights violations and lack of accountability that stretched back decades, requiring major reforms. The consent decree
6519-512: The LAPD's long-term strategic plan and risk management strategies, and coordinates local, state, and federal government and legislative matters. The majority of the LAPD's approximately 10,000 officers are assigned within the Office of Operations, whose primary office is located in the new Police Administration Building. Headed by an Assistant Chief and the Assistant to the Director, who is
6642-692: The LAPD's regional divisions as well as specialized divisions including the Metropolitan Division and the Communications Division. As of 2014, there were 5,000 cadets. The Office of the Chief of Police has the responsibility of assisting the Chief of Police in the administration of the department. This includes the Chief of Staff, Public Communications, and Employee Relations, as well as the Community Safety Partnership Bureau. The Director of
6765-422: The LAPD. Mayor Richard J. Riordan and the Los Angeles city council agreed to the terms of the decree on November 2, 2000. The federal judge formally entered the decree into law on June 15, 2001. To promote civil rights integrity, the legally binding decree emphasized several areas, including management and supervisory measures, revising critical incident procedures, documentation, investigation and review, revising
6888-490: The LAPD––already considered "nationally notorious" for police corruption––entered a new phase of widespread criminal activity. In 1936, Davis sent members of the LAPD to California's state borders, along Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon, to institute checkpoints blocking the entry of migrants, or "okies" . The police began raids and mass arrests of populations including the homeless and disabled; those taken in by police were given
7011-481: The Lenco B.E.A.R., BearCat , and MedCat armored rescue vehicles. The current Officer-in-Charge is Lieutenant II Ruben Lopez. The current Assistant Officer-in-Charge is Lieutenant II Lee McMillion. Between 1972 and 2005, SWAT had 3371 activations of those 3196 were tactical incidents with 174 involving hostages and 31 resulted in suspects being killed by SWAT. E Platoon serves as both the LAPD's mounted police unit and
7134-629: The Los Angeles Police Academy ( Elysian Park ), Ahmanson Recruit Training Center ( Westchester ), and the Edward Davis Training Center ( Granada Hills ). From spring 2007 through the spring of 2009, recruits could earn money through sign-on bonuses ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 10,000. Those bonuses ended in 2009. Sign on bonuses were paid 1/2 after graduation from the academy, and 1/2 after completion of probation. $ 2,000 could be added for sign-ons from outside
7257-533: The Los Angeles area for housing arrangements. As of July 2009, recruits earned starting salaries of $ 56,522–61,095 depending on education level and began earning their full salary on their first day of academy training. In January 2010, the starting base salary for incoming police officers was lowered by 20%. At the time If applicants had graduated from high school their starting salary would be $ 45,226, if they had at least 60 college units, with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better, their salary would start at $ 47,043, and if
7380-818: The Metropolitan Division's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, the first such unit in American law enforcement, as well as the Special Investigation Section , a highly-secretive tactical stakeout unit. That same year, the Watts riots were sparked by police abuse. In the 1970s and 1980s, street gangs became a growing issue in Los Angeles; in response, the LAPD established the Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) gang intelligence unit in 1979, conducting Operation Hammer in 1987. In
7503-580: The Mexican American community. The internal inquiry by Chief Parker resulted in eight police officers being indicted for the assaults, 54 being transferred, and 39 suspended. In 1962, the controversial LAPD shooting of seven unarmed members of the Nation of Islam resulted in the death of Ronald Stokes, and led to protests of the LAPD led by Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam. In the 1970s and into
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#17327910703997626-460: The Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy, currently Police Administrator III Lizabeth Rhodes, reports directly to the Office of the Chief. This office was created as a result of the Department of Justice's federal consent decree. It develops the LAPD's policies and procedures, conducts internal auditing and programs to ensure compliance, handles litigation, forms and ensures compliance with
7749-478: The Police Commission, is a five-member civilian body that oversees the LAPD. The Chief of Police reports to the board and the rest of the department reports to the chief. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is an independent part of the LAPD that has oversight over the department's internal disciplinary process and reviews complaints of officer misconduct. It was created by the recommendation of
7872-576: The SWAT Mafia had expansive influence within Metropolitan Division; promoted officers based on nepotism and favoritism rather than merit; and sabotaged, harassed, and overlooked officers who did not share their values, promoted de-escalation, or spoke out against them. The former sergeant alleged that after he informed the LAPD Internal Affairs Division of the SWAT Mafia's existence, he was forcibly transferred out of SWAT to
7995-786: The United States. Throughout its existence, the LAPD absorbed numerous smaller police forces in Greater Los Angeles , including the LACMTA Police in 1997 and the Los Angeles General Services Police in 2012. The LAPD has made several attempts to absorb the Los Angeles Airport Police and Los Angeles Park Ranger Division , though all attempts failed or did not proceed, and no mergers have been made since 2012. The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners , also known as
8118-503: The applicant had fully completed a college degree, the salary would start at $ 48,880. In 2014, after negotiations between the city and the police officers union , an agreement on police officer pay that would give pay increases to nearly 1,000 officers who joined the department since the salaries for incoming officers were cut, was reached. The agreement also raised starting salaries for officers to $ 57,420 with an additional increase to $ 60,552 after six months which would become effective in
8241-553: The architects. The total cost of the new building complex including the data center, the Main Street Parking Structure, and the Aiso Public Parking Garage was $ 437 million. The main building is a 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m ) across 10 floors, a café ("LA Reflections"), underground parking as well as a parking structure, racks for 50 bicycles, and a 400-seat civic auditorium. It is LEED-certified , uses energy-efficient mechanical systems, daylighting, high-performance glass, and recycled or renewable building materials. The perimeter
8364-457: The beginning of 2015. The agreement would also change the current overtime payment system from a deferred payment system, which was implemented to cut costs, to a pay-as-you-go overtime system as well as increase the overtime budget from $ 30 million to $ 70 million. The LAPD operates a wide variety of police cars , primarily the Ford Police Interceptor Utility , Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor , and Dodge Charger , with limited numbers of
8487-438: The cameras along with slight issues with the cameras falling off of officers during movement. In November 2014, the LAPD chose Taser International as the vendor for body cameras to be used by officers after their trial program earlier in the year. On December 16, 2014, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the city would purchase 7,000 body worn cameras from Taser for use by the department. Patrol officers are now equipped with
8610-406: The cameras, and are required to use these devices while on assignment. 700 of the cameras were deployed to patrol officers in the Central, Mission and Newton patrol areas of the city beginning in January 2015. $ 1.55 million was raised from private donors to start the body camera program for the initial rollout phase in order to ease budget constraints for the city with another $ 1 million coming from
8733-440: The charge with 20 out of 24 voting for acquittal of all charges. The case was dismissed by a judge. Daniels' family received a $ 1.2 million settlement after filing a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles riots of 1992, also known as the Rodney King uprising or the Rodney King riots, began on April 29, 1992, when a jury acquitted four LAPD police officers accused in the videotaped beating of Rodney King following
8856-416: The city's hosting of the 1984 Summer Olympics. They were used as battering rams to breach structures and buildings inhabited by hostile occupants. They saw action in the 1997 North Hollywood shootout , but have since been retired. The LAPD's aircraft consists of 19 helicopters ("airships")—5 Bell 206 Jet Rangers and 14 Eurocopter AS350-B2s —and 1 Beechcraft King Air 200 . LAPD aircraft are operated by
8979-586: The consent decree was extended by six years, as U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess found that the LAPD had not implemented the reforms that it had committed to. The federal oversight of the LAPD was lifted in 2013. On July 10, 2005, while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, Jose Pena took his 19-month-old daughter, Suzie, hostage in his home. After police arrived, Pena threatened to kill her and himself after firing at others earlier. SWAT officers were called in. After negotiations to try and release Pena's daughter were unsuccessful, four SWAT officers entered
9102-489: The constitutionality of the vehicle, and the California Appellate Court later ruled the vehicle was unconstitutional, violating lawful search and seizure. In 1988, African American baseball sportscaster and retired Baseball Hall of Fame player Joe Morgan was detained at Los Angeles International Airport by LAPD and L.A. Airport Police officers after being falsely identified as a drug dealer. He
9225-448: The department to community initiatives. There were differences of opinion along racial lines, with three in five white and Asian residents and one in three black residents trusting the LAPD to "do what is right". Over the years, the Los Angeles Police Department has been the subject of several scandals, misconduct, and other controversies. According to one study, during the lengthy tenure of William H. Parker as police chief (1950–1966),
9348-534: The department's Internal Affairs, the team leader, Captain Thomas Elfmont, directed his men to "hit" the apartments "hard", to "level" them, and to leave them "uninhabitable". The police detained 37 people, making seven arrests. They found six ounces of marijuana and a small amount of cocaine. The seven were beaten by the police and at the police station forced to whistle the theme to The Andy Griffith Show . Those who refused to comply were beaten again. Nobody
9471-543: The development of a risk management system; the creation of a field data capture system to track the race, ethnicity or national origin of the motorists and pedestrians stopped by the department; the creation of an Ethics Enforcement Section within the Internal Affairs Group; the transfer of investigative authority to Internal Affairs of all serious personnel complaint investigations; a nationwide study by an independent consultant on law enforcement dealing with
9594-418: The disciplinary system to ensure fairness and equality. As well as overseeing the LAPD's disciplinary process, the Inspector General may undertake special investigations as directed by the Board of Police Commissioners. The LAPD's Art Theft Detail "is the only full-time municipal law enforcement unit in the United States devoted to the investigation of art crimes ." The longtime head and often sole member of
9717-478: The early 1920s, was a member of the Ku Klux Klan . James E. Davis served two terms as LAPD police chief, heading the department from 1926 to 1929 and from 1933 to 1938. During his first term as chief, Davis called for violence against criminals while leading a Prohibition vice squad, and the department was known for controversies including accusations of conspiracy, blackmail, and murder. Davis also formed
9840-609: The force going on to become the first black officer to obtain the rank of commander and the first black station commander, leading the Southwest Division. As of 2019, the LAPD had 10,008 sworn officers. Of these, 81% (8,158) were male and 19% (1,850) female. The racial/ethnic breakdown: The LAPD has grown over the years in the number of officers who speak languages in addition to English. There were 483 bilingual or multilingual officers in 1974, 1,560 in 1998, and 2,500 in 2001 who spoke at least one of 32 languages. In 2001,
9963-586: The force, was the victim of a car bomb. During the trial that followed, LAPD captain Earl Kynette was found guilty of Raymond's attempted murder; Davis acknowledged that he had known Raymond was under police surveillance. In the late 1930s, the LAPD engaged in widespread racial profiling of Mexican Americans . The LAPD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department used the 1942 " Sleepy Lagoon murder " of José Gallardo Díaz to justify
10086-431: The force. In 1886, the department hired its first two black officers, Robert William Stewart and Roy Green. The LAPD was one of the first two police departments in the country to hire an African-American woman officer, Georgia Ann Robinson in 1919. Despite this, the department was slow at integration. During the 1965 Watts riots , only 5 of the 205 police assigned to South Central Los Angeles were black, even though it
10209-514: The future. Since then, both LAPD patrol and investigative divisions now have access to “Patrol Rifles”. Such rifles are most commonly the AR-15 and M4 Assault Rifle platform chambered in 5.56MM and .223 Remington calibers. Other Law Enforcement Agencies across the country have also followed this trend to keep their regular patrol officers better equipped against a well armed adversary. Randal "Randy" David Simmons (July 22, 1956 – February 7, 2008)
10332-454: The home and, during a gunfight, both Mr. Pena and his infant daughter were shot and killed by SWAT team members. One officer was shot and wounded by Pena. Suzie Pena's death was the first death of a hostage ever in LAPD SWAT history and the LAPD was criticized for their actions. An independent board of inquiry later cleared the SWAT officers of any wrongdoing. A judge later dismissed a lawsuit by
10455-419: The incident, stating several officers "fired after the suspect no longer posed an imminent threat and that others were too far away to determine the threat". In July 2020, a former D Platoon sergeant sued the LAPD, alleging that D Platoon's culture created a "SWAT Mafia" that glorified the use of lethal and excessive force over less-lethal force or de-escalation . In the lawsuit, the former sergeant stated
10578-497: The management of gang units, revising the management of confidential informants, program development for response to persons with mental illness, improving training, increased integrity audits, increasing the operations of the Police Commission and the Inspector General, and increasing community outreach and public information. Other provisions in the decree called for divisions to investigate all use of force (now known as Force Investigative Division) and conduct audits department-wide;
10701-514: The mentally ill, to help the department refine its system; a study by an independent consultant of the department's training programs; and the creation of an informant manual and database. The Consent Decree Bureau was the LAPD bureau charged with overseeing this process. Until 2009, the commanding officer of the Consent Decree Bureau, a civilian appointed by the chief of police, was Police Administrator Gerald L. Chaleff. In 2006,
10824-515: The new series established that the unit depicted is LAPD SWAT. The SWAT series of computer games, created by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vivendi Universal and Irrational Games , started off as an interactive film follow-up to the Police Quest series, which was narrated by retired LAPD Chief Daryl Gates. The SWAT series then continued as a real-time strategy game, and then three first-person tactical shooters similar to
10947-455: The officers admitted his crime. Ovando was released, and in 2000, was paid $ 15 million for his injuries and imprisonment. The officers' actions led to the exposure of the Rampart scandal . By 2001, the resulting investigations would lead to more than 75 officers being investigated or charged, and over 100 criminal cases being overturned, due to perjury or other forms of misconduct, much based on
11070-486: The option of leaving California or serving a 180-day jail term. The so-called "bum blockade" ended after significant negative publicity, including a suit filed by the ACLU in federal court. By 1937, the LAPD was leading a vast intelligence operation wiretapping politicians, judges, and federal agents. Some records of police surveillance were taken under subpoena after Harry Raymond, a former officer investigating corruption in
11193-606: The plea-bargain testimony of Perez. Following the Rampart scandal, the United States Department of Justice entered into a consent decree with the LAPD regarding systemic civil rights violations and lack of accountability that stretched back decades. Many in the LAPD resisted federal oversight and proposed reforms but entered into a consent decree when the DOJ threatened to sue the city and take complete control over
11316-516: The police not be subject to the same laws as citizens; the last of these contributed to ongoing conflicts with the FBI, with the agency refusing to train LAPD officers until after Parker's death. Parker adopted the rhetoric of Los Angeles as the " white spot " of America, first popularized by Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler , and explicitly set it against the "black picture" of the nation. The Los Angeles City Council once confronted him with
11439-503: The rank of sergeant. A lawsuit by a policewoman, Fanchon Blake, in the 1980s, instituted court-ordered mandates that the department begin actively hiring and promoting women police officers in its ranks. The department eliminated the rank of "policeman" from new hires at that time along with the rank of "policewoman". Anyone already in those positions was grandfathered in, but new hires were classified instead as "police officers", which continues to this day. In 2002, women made up 18.9% of
11562-561: The remainder of the Division. Metropolitan Division also maintains a doctor, crisis negotiators, and other specialists in weaponry, computer science, and audio-visual technology. Platoon units are assigned individual radio designations that commence with "R" that can be traced to the division's origins from the Reserve Unit. B and C Platoons are primarily responsible for carrying out crime suppression missions. Their most active function
11685-602: The reserve unit of the Special Operations Bureau. K-9 Platoon, or the Canine Platoon, deploys highly trained dog handlers and their police dogs . Two K-9 officers have also been trained in search and rescue operations using dogs. The department first introduced dogs in April 1980 when it commenced a one-year pilot program with two dogs which was after two months declared a success. The K-9 Platoon
11808-402: The riots. On October 12, 1996, LAPD Officers Rafael Pérez and Nino Durden entered the apartment of Javier Ovando . They shot Ovando in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. They then planted a gun on the unarmed Ovando to make it appear he had attacked them. The two officers then perjured themselves. Ovando was sentenced to 23 years in custody based on their testimony. Later, one of
11931-563: The rising crime rate, and the continuing difficulty of mustering a team response in a timely manner. When Metropolitan Division was reorganized into platoons, SWAT was given the designation of "D" Platoon, and formally adopted the acronym "SWAT". The first significant deployment of LAPD's SWAT unit was on December 9, 1969, in a four-hour confrontation with members of the Black Panthers . The Panthers eventually surrendered, with three Panthers and three officers being injured. By 1974, there
12054-399: The scene had a significant disadvantage until LAPD SWAT arrived with equivalent firepower and body armor; they also appropriated several semi-automatic rifles from a nearby firearms dealer to help even the odds, though by the time this began to happen, SWAT had already arrived. The incident sparked debate on the appropriate firepower for patrol officers to have available in similar situations in
12177-556: The shootout, a fire erupted inside the residence. The cause of the fire is officially unknown; police speculated that an errant round ignited one of the suspects' Molotov cocktails , while other sources blame police tear gas grenades started the structure fire. All six of the suspects suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died in the ensuing blaze. By the time of the SLA shootout, SWAT teams had reorganized into six 10-man teams, each team consisting of two five-man units, called elements. An element consisted of an element leader, two assaulters,
12300-471: The start of the Civil Service, this force was increased to 200. In 1910, LAPD Officer Alice Stebbins Wells became the first sworn female police officer in the United States. Officer Georgia Ann Robinson , hired in 1916, was the first African-American female police officer. Severe corruption issues within the LAPD and the rest of the city government lasted until the 1940s. In 1933, the Reserve Unit
12423-478: The state trial that immediately preceded the 1992 Los Angeles riots , has long been home to a large concentration of LAPD officers, most of them white. Hiring quotas began to change this during the 1980s, but it was not until the Christopher Commission reforms that substantial numbers of black, Hispanic, and Asian officers began to be hired onto the force. Minority officers can be found in both rank-and-file and leadership positions in virtually all divisions. In 1910
12546-481: The unit is Detective Don Hrycyk, who in 2014 was described as being a 40-year veteran of the department with twenty years as the only known full-time art detective in the United States. According to the LAPD, the unit has recovered over $ 121 million in stolen works since 1993. The Art Theft Detail is part of the Burglary Special Section of the Detective Bureau of the LAPD. The LAPD Cadet Program
12669-551: The use of the chokehold (placing an arm or flashlight over someone's throat) to subdue suspects. In 1982, this technique was used and led to the death of James Mincey Jr. Following Mincey's death, the Police Commission barred the use of chokeholds by officers unless in a life-threatening situation. An investigation found that sixteen people had died after being restrained by police chokeholds. In 1986, Officer Stephanie Lazarus killed her ex-boyfriend's new wife. Despite
12792-437: The victim's father's insistence that Lazarus should be a suspect in the homicide, she was not considered by the police and the case went cold. In the 2000s, detectives revisiting cold cases deduced that Stephanie was a suspect. DNA evidence led to her arrest and conviction. Also in 1986, the department purchased a 14-ton armored breaching vehicle, used to smash quickly through the walls of houses of suspects. The ACLU questioned
12915-402: The world press for days after. Negotiations were opened with the barricaded suspects on numerous occasions, both prior to and after the introduction of tear gas, and police did not fire until the SLA had fired several volleys of semi-automatic and fully automatic gunfire at them. Despite the 3,772 rounds fired by the SLA, no police, civilian, or emergency services casualties were reported. During
13038-631: Was a 27-year LAPD veteran, had been with SWAT for more than 20 years. To honor his legacy, the Metropolitan Division Randal Simmons Explorer Post 114 was named and dedicated after his death to continue his youth outreach work. Officer Simmons was also mentioned as a source of inspiration behind character Officer Jones' reason for joining the LAPD in the television series Southland , in the episode " Underwater ". Metropolitan Division's B and C Platoons were part of 600 police officers deployed to handle
13161-463: Was a general acceptance of SWAT as a police resource in Los Angeles. On December 6, 1969, two patrol officers claimed to have seen Panther members, Paul Redd, "Duck" Smith and Geronimo Pratt, in possession of illegal firearms. Search warrants for illegal weapons were filed with the L.A. County Court Office were issued and served two hours before sunrise on December 9, 1969. The LAPD planned a massive three-location raid involving more than 350 officers. It
13284-1087: Was an armed confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Eugene Phillips, Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu , and both SWAT and patrol officers in North Hollywood on February 28, 1997. It began when responding North Hollywood Division patrol officers engaged Phillips and Mătăsăreanu leaving a bank which the two men had just robbed. Eleven officers and seven civilians sustained injuries before LAPD SWAT arrived and both robbers were killed. Phillips and Mătăsăreanu had robbed several banks prior to their attempt in North Hollywood and were notorious for their heavy armament, which included automatic rifles. LAPD patrol officers were typically armed with low-caliber handguns or revolvers, with shotguns available in their cars (only SWAT officers were regularly equipped with rifles). Phillips and Mătăsăreanu carried fully automatic rifles, with ammunition capable of penetrating regular police body armor, and wore full body armor that police handguns could not penetrate. The officers at
13407-512: Was chaired by attorney Warren Christopher and was created to examine the structure and operation of the LAPD. The commission found that there were a significant number of LAPD officers who used excessive force and that the disciplinary structure was weak and ineffective. Fewer than a third of the suggested reforms were put into place. To reduce drive-by shootings , LAPD initiated Operation Cul-de-Sac in 1991. This consisted of installing barriers on residential streets to block vehicle traffic. As
13530-533: Was charged with a crime. The city paid four million dollars to settle the matter. On September 4, 1988, LAPD officers raided the home of Roger Guydon looking for drugs. They found nothing. In 1991, Guydon won a $ 760,000 lawsuit against the city. In April 1991, the Christopher Commission was formed in the wake of the Rodney King beating, by the then-mayor of Los Angeles Tom Bradley . It
13653-460: Was created for police dogs who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. The medal, which is named after Liberty, a Metropolitan Division K-9 who was shot and killed in the line of duty, has only been awarded once in its history. Liberty's handler, John Hall, received the Medal of Valor for the same incident. While not the first to use specially trained units, the LAPD was the first to form
13776-577: Was created from the merger of the Counterterrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau with the Special Operations Bureau in 2010. The Transit Services Bureau supervises the Transit Services Group and the Traffic Group, responsible for overseeing the four Geographical Traffic Divisions. Before 2009, LAPD headquarters was located at Parker Center , named after former chief William H. Parker, which stood at 150 N. Los Angeles St. in
13899-473: Was created in 1994 by former LAPD Chief William Bratton , while he was still a NYPD Police Commissioner . He implemented the LAPD version on becoming Chief of Police in 2002. The Counterterrorism and Special Operations Bureau provides the Los Angeles Police Department specialized tactical resources in support of operations during daily field activities, unusual occurrences, and, especially, during serious disturbances and elevated terrorism threat conditions. It
14022-580: Was decided that the previously untested SWAT unit, led by Daryl Gates and Sergeant Patrick McKinley would take the lead of the raid into the Black Panther Headquarters at 41st and Central. The Black Panthers engaged the SWAT team in a four-hour gun battle, exchanging over 5,000 rounds of ammunition until the Panthers surrendered. During the shootout, Daryl Gates called the Department of Defense , requesting and receiving permission to use
14145-479: Was formed, tasked with crime suppression; it would later evolve into the Metropolitan Division. In 1946, the top-secret Gangster Squad was formed to combat the American Mafia and Los Angeles crime family . During World War II , under Clemence B. Horrall , the overall number of personnel was depleted by the demands of the military. Despite efforts to maintain numbers, the police could do little to control
14268-846: Was founded in 1853 as the Los Angeles Rangers, a volunteer force that assisted the existing Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). The Rangers were soon succeeded by another volunteer force, the Los Angeles City Guards. Neither the Rangers nor the Guards were particularly efficient, and Los Angeles became known for its violence, gambling , and vice . The first paid force was created in 1869 when six officers were hired to serve under City Marshal William C. Warren . By 1900, under John M. Glass , there were 70 officers, one for every 1,500 people. In 1903, with
14391-471: Was killed by a police sniper, was identified as 20-year-old Edwin Rivera. The three civilian victims were identified as 54-year-old Gerardo Rivera, 21-year-old Edgar Rivera and 25-year-old Endi Rivera, members of Edwin's family. Simmon's funeral, which was attended by nearly 25,000 mourners including law enforcement personnel from around the world, was the largest police funeral in American history. Simmons, who
14514-485: Was lifted in 2013. The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California stated that the decree "accomplished its purpose by and large" and that the department "has made serious culture changes", but cautioned against backsliding and said there was more work to be done regarding racial disparities and treatment of the homeless. Louis Oaks , chief of the LAPD in
14637-520: Was not integrated until the 1960s. Early in his tenure as police chief, Parker launched an extensive public relations campaign for the LAPD. In the 1950s, he was a credited consultant for police procedural drama Dragnet , even offering the show departmental support in providing case examples and fact-checking; he popularized the term " thin blue line " in both his speeches and in a TV show he conceived and produced for Los Angeles NBC network KNBC ; he hired Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry as
14760-568: Was reduced to 392. The Reserve Unit was originally based out of Room 114 at Parker Center , the LAPD's former headquarters. The designation "114" is used today to refer to the Metropolitan Division headquarters. In 2016, Metropolitan Division relocated from LAPD Central Division in Downtown to the newly renovated former Rampart Division station that had been vacant since 2008. Assignments include: There are two field platoons (B and C), three specialized platoons (D, E, K9, H and M) supervised by
14883-569: Was released when the LAPD realized their mistake. The city cleared the detective of wrongdoing, but Morgan subsequently filed a civil suit against both the LAPD and the city for the unlawful detention; the lawsuit was settled in 1993, and Morgan was awarded $ 800,000 by the Los Angeles City Council. On August 1, 1988, as part of Chief Gates' Operation Hammer directed against gangs, SWAT teams raided four apartments at 39th Street and Dalton Avenue. According to an investigation by
15006-468: Was the first member of the LAPD SWAT to be killed in the line of duty in its 40-year history (although an officer died in a training accident in 1998). He was shot and killed in Winnetka during a standoff with a barricaded suspect. He was among five deaths in the incident, including three civilians and the suspect. SWAT Officer James Veenstra was also seriously injured in the same incident. The suspect, who
15129-443: Was the largest black community in Los Angeles. Los Angeles' first black mayor, Tom Bradley was a former LAPD officer and quit the department after being unable to advance past the rank of lieutenant like other black police officers in the department. When Bradley was elected mayor in 1972, only 5% of LAPD officers were black and there was only one black captain in the department, Homer Broome. Broome would break down racial barriers on
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