HISTORICAL

BACKGROUND
 The first specific Los Angeles police force was founded in 1853,
as the Los Angeles Rangers, a volunteer force that assisted the existing
County forces. The Rangers were soon succeeded by the Los Angeles
City Guards, another volunteer group. Neither force was 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 the start of the Civil Service, this force was
increased to 200.
The CBS radio show Calling All Cars hired LAPD radio
dispacher Jesse Rosenquist to be the voice of the dispatcher.
Rosenquist was already famous because home radios could tune in to
early police radio frequencies. As the first police radio dispatcher
presented to the public ear, he was the voice that actors went to when
called upon for a radio dispatcher role.
 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 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 and would serve
until his death 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.
The iconic television series Dragnet, with LAPD
Detective Joe Friday as the primary character, was the first major
media representation of the department. Real LAPD operations
inspired Jack Webb to create the series and close cooperation with
department officers let him make it as realistic as possible,
including authentic police equipment and sound recording on-site
at the police station.
 Due to Dragnet's popularity, LAPD Chief Parker "became, after J.
Edgar Hoover, the most well known and respected law enforcement official in
the nation" at that time. In the 1960s, when the LAPD under Chief Thomas
Reddin expanded its community relations division and began efforts to reach
out to the African-American community, Dragnet followed suit with more
emphasis on internal affairs and community policing than solving crimes, the
show's previous mainstay.
Under Parker, LAPD created the first SWAT (Special Weapons and
Tactics) team in United States law enforcement. Officer John Nelson and
then-Inspector Daryl Gates created the program in 1965 to deal with threats
from radical organizations such as the Black Panther Party operating during
the Vietnam War era.
The old headquarters for the LAPD was Parker Center, named after
former chief William H. Parker, which still stands at 150 N. Los Angeles St. The
new headquarters is 300 yards (270 m) west in the purpose built Police
Administration Building located at 100 W. 1st St., immediately south of Los
Angeles City Hall, which officially opened in October 2009.
LOGO AND BADGE
SYMBOLISM
1. Five stars – represent the five-member Board of Police
Commissioners.

2. "Old Glory" – illustrative of devotion to country.

3. Modern family unit supported by the badge – signifying the duty of

the police to serve the community. The individuals are faceless,
indicating he duty to serve impartially, without regard to race, color
or creed.

4. Scales of justice.

5. Sunrays – symbolic of faith, hope and perseverance.

6. Badge – symbolic of the line officer, the mainstay of police service.

7. 1869 – the year in which the Los Angeles Police Department

became a paid City agency.

8. Olive branches – for the peace and domestic tranquility.

9. Four stars - insignia of the Chief of Police, the Department’s

General Manger.

10. Motto of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The Seal of the Los Angeles Police Department was adopted in 1971.
It was designed by Officer Rolph Lucke.
1. Border design based on the fasces, or ancient
Roman symbol of authority.

2. Designation of rank.

3. Rays of a setting sun represent a West Coast

location.

4. Replica of City Hall with three symbolic

characteristics: Tower’s rising lines depict the untiring
and unyielding spirit of the City’s founders; the flanking
wings represent the expansive growth from the first "El
Pueblo"; the broad base signifies the City’s firm
foundation.

5. The City Seal depicts: the City’s history through

Spanish, Mexican, autonomous and United States
control; its site as a prolific garden spot; and the early
influence of the mission padres.

6. Designation of city and department.

7. Oval shape, unique in badge design when adopted in

1940.

8. Badge number or symbol of rank.

 OFFICIAL
FUNCTION
PREVENTION OF CRIME

Peace in a free society depends on

voluntary compliance with the law. The primary
responsibility for upholding the law therefore
lies not with the police, but with the people.
Since crime is a social phenomenon, crime
prevention is the concern of every person living
in society. Society employs full-time professional
police to prevent crime, to deter it, and when
that fails, to apprehend those who violate the
law.
DETERRENCE OF CRIME

While there are certain crimes that cannot

be deterred, crimes committed against property
and against innocent victims in public places are
reduced by police patrol. Street crime is curbed
by the potential criminal's fear of immediate
apprehension or by the increased likelihood of
his detection. The deterrence of crime requires
the investigation of behavior which reasonably
appears to be criminally directed.
REVERENCE FOR HUMAN LIFE

Reverence for human life is the primary

consideration in developing tactics and strategies in
pursuit of our motto: "To Protect and To Serve."
Whenever an operation designed to achieve an
immediate goal such as the arrest of a felon or the
gathering of evidence to complete a criminal
investigation causes a victim, witness, or other
innocent person to be subjected to potential injury or
death, our primary objective must be to protect that
person. No arrest, conviction, or piece of evidence can
outweigh the value of human life.
APPREHENSION OF OFFENDERS
The administration of criminal justice
consists of the identification, arrest,
prosecution, punishment, and rehabilitation of a
law violator, and it has as its objective the
voluntary compliance with the law as an
alternative to punishment. Once a crime has
been committed, it is the duty of the
Department to initiate the criminal justice
process by identifying and arresting the
perpetrator, to obtain necessary evidence, and
to cooperate in the prosecution of the case.
RECOVERY AND RETURN OF PROPERTY

The actual costs of crime are difficult to

measure; there cannot be a dollar value assigned to the
broken bodies, ruined lives, and human misery which
are its products. However, it is possible to observe the
steadily mounting cost of lost and stolen property. This
loss as well as the other costs of crime must ultimately
be borne by its victims. To minimize the losses due to
crime, the Department makes every reasonable effort
to recover lost or stolen property, to identify its
owners, and to ensure its prompt return.
MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC

To facilitate the safe and expeditious movement of

vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the Department must enforce
traffic laws, investigate traffic collisions, and direct traffic. To
enforce compliance with traffic laws and to develop driver
awareness of the causes of traffic collisions, the Department
appropriately warns, cites, or arrests traffic law violators. Traffic
collisions are investigated to protect the rights of the involved
parties, to care for the injured, to determine the causes of
accidents so that methods of prevention may be developed and,
when a traffic law violation is discovered, to gather necessary
evidence to prosecute the violator. The Department will direct
vehicular traffic when necessary to prevent injury to persons and
property, and provide information to the public in assisting them
to arrive at their destination safely and expeditiously.
PUBLIC SERVICE

Often, because there are no other public or private

agencies available, the public relies upon the Department
for assistance and advice in the many routine and
emergency situations which develop in an urban society.
For this reason and because there is frequently a potential
for crime, the Department regularly responds to incidents
where it is not contemplated that an arrest will be made.
Whenever practical, on- or off-duty officers in uniform in a
distinctively marked police vehicle shall render necessary
aid and/or assistance to a driver or occupant of a disabled
motor vehicle on highways within the City of Los Angeles.
DISASTER RESPONSE
Whenever a disaster occurs, the citizens of
Los Angeles inevitably look to the Police
Department and the City government for
leadership and assistance in mitigating its
effects. Therefore, it is vital that all City
employees be available to assist when a disaster
occurs.
ADMINITRATIVE AND
OPERATIONAL
SUPPORT
DIVISION/UNIT
The Department shall be divided into
the following functional offices under
the direction of the Chief of Police:

* Office of Operations.
* Office of Special Operations.
* Office of Administrative Services.
* Office of Constitutional Policing and
Policy.
Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy

* Governmental Liaison section.

* Department Risk Manager.
* Risk Management Legal Affairs Group.
* Legal Affairs Division.
* Risk Management Division.
* OMBUDS Section.
* Policies and Procedures Division.
* Audit Division.
* Media Relations and Community Affairs Group.
* Community Relationship Division
Professional Standards Bureau

* Special Operations Division.

* Force Investigation Division.
* Internal Affairs Group.
* Administrative Investigations
Division.
* Criminal Investigations Division.
Office of Administrative Services

* Assistant to the Director.

* Behavioral Science Services.
* Use of Force Review Division.
* Fiscal Operations Division.
* Administrative Services Bureau.
* Police Science and Training Bureau.
* Department Operations Center (DOC)
Office of Special Operations

* Assistant to the Director.

* Chief of Detectives.
* Counter Terrorism and Special
*Operations Bureau.
* Security Services Division.
* Property Division.
* Youth Programs/Gang Reduction
Youth Development (GRYD).
Office of Operations

* COMPSTAT Division.
* Assistant to the Director.
* Central Bureau.
* West Bureau.
* Valley Bureau.
* South Bureau.
* South Bureau Homicide Division.
* Special Olympics Planning Group.
Information Technology
Bureau

* Application Development &

*Support Division.
* Information Technology Division.
* Grants Section.
* Radio planning Section.
Specialized Units
S.W.A.T.
Off-Road Enforcement
Mounted Unit
Special Operations Support Division
Air Support Division
Art Theft Detail
K-9 Unit
ACTF (Animal Cruelty Task Force)
Gang and Narcotics Division
Specialized Enforcement Section (Motors &
Commercial Enforcement)
 RECRUITMENT
PROCESS OF THE
NEWLY HIRED POLICE
OFFICERS
Steps to Becoming an LAPD Officer

1. Meet the minimum qualifications for prospective

officers.
2. Complete the Personal Qualifications Essay, a screening
exam that also tests communication abilities, at an
approved testing site.
3. Complete a background investigation and polygraph
exam.
4. Pass a physical abilities test.
5. Attend a personal interview with an LAPD panel.
6. Complete a medical and psychological evaluation.
7. Accept appointment as a recruit and attend The Los
Angeles Police Academy.
8. Begin working as an officer with the LAPD.
How to Become a Los Angeles, California Police Officer
The LAPD has a multi-step process to become a police
officer. Once candidates have met residency and education
requirements and submitted the application, which is step
one, they move on to step two, the Personal Qualification
Essay. This essay is administered at a testing site and is
designed to determine an individual's personal qualifications
to become an officer. The remaining steps that potential
officers will need to pass include a physical abilities test, a
background investigation, a polygraph test, a department
interview, a medical exam, and a psychological evaluation.
Once selected, recruits report to The Los Angeles Police
Academy for training.
Los Angeles Police Officer Training, Prerequisites, and
Educational Requirements

Individuals wishing to become LAPD officers must first meet

eligibility requirements. Candidates must be at least 21 years of
age, have a high school diploma or GED, and be a US citizen or
permanent resident alien who has applied for citizenship. One
does not have to be a resident of Los Angeles to become an LAPD
officer. Upon meeting eligibility requirements, individuals can
apply for a position with the LAPD by completing the online
application, with includes preliminary background screening
questions as well as a job preview questionnaire to assess the
candidate's readiness for police work. Accepted candidates then
complete the selection process with additional aptitude, medical,
and psychological exams. Those who successfully pass all stages of
the process will complete officer training at The Los Angeles Police
Academy.
 SALARY AND
OTHER BENEFITS
BENEFITS
Compressed Work Schedule
A compressed work schedule is available for many patrol and
special assignment units. Officers who work on compressed
schedules work the same number of hours but can have
more consecutive days off, by working longer days.
Depending on assignment, available schedules include three
12-hour days and four 10-hour days.
Health and Dental Plans
Excellent health and dental plans are available for Police
Officers and their eligible family members/domestic partners.
The City contributes to all plans.
Compressed Work Schedule
A compressed work schedule is available for many
patrol and special assignment units. Officers who
work on compressed schedules work the same
number of hours but can have more consecutive
days off, by working longer days. Depending on
assignment, available schedules include three 12-
hour days and four 10-hour days.
Health and Dental Plans
Excellent health and dental plans are available for
Police Officers and their eligible family
members/domestic partners. The City contributes to
all plans.
Sick Leave and Disability Benefits
Sworn employees receive 12 days of 100 percent paid sick
leave, five days at 75 percent, and five days at 50 percent,
upon hiring and each year while employed. Employees may
accumulate up to 100 days at 100 percent, 75 percent, and
50 percent paid sick leave. Employees are eligible for a
service-connected disability retirement beginning on the
date of graduation from basic training.
Vacation and Holidays
Sworn employees receive 15 days of vacation per year after
one year of service and 23 days per year after ten years.
Every sworn employee also receives a total of 13 paid
floating holidays per year; one day every four weeks.
 LAPD
Equipment
Ford Black & White Vehicle with Red & Ford Black & White Vehicle
Blue Light bar (Slicktop)

Dodge Charger LAPD BMW Motorcycle

LAPD Officers are authorized to use, as their on duty primary weapon,

Beretta:

92F, 92FS, 92FS-Stainless Steel, 8045 (4” barrel)

Smith & Wesson:

459, 5904, 5903, 659, 5906, 645, 4506, 4566, 4567, 5903 TSW, 5906 TSW, 4569
TSW, and 4566 TSW.

Glock:

9mm: Model 34, magazine capacity 17

Model 17, magazine capacity 17
Model 19, magazine capacity 15

.40 caliber: Model 35, magazine capacity 15

Model 22, magazine capacity 15
Model 23, magazine capacity 13

.45 caliber: Model 21, magazine capacity 13

TYPES OF POLICE
UNIFORMS
The three classifications of approved Department
uniforms are as follows:

• Class A uniform -long sleeve shirt with banded

collar and tie;
• Class B uniform (optional) -long sleeve shirt with
sport collar (lay flat style) and no tie, with a white
crew or white V-neck, or a black crew neck T-shirt;
or,
• Class C uniform (optional) -short sleeve shirt
with sport collar and no tie, with white crew or
white V-neck T-shirt.
Class A uniform -long sleeve shirt
with banded collar and tie
Class B uniform (optional) -long sleeve shirt
with sport collar (lay flat style) and no tie,
with a white crew or white V-neck, or a black
crew neck T-shirt
Class C uniform (optional) -short sleeve
shirt with sport collar and no tie, with
white crew or white V-neck T-shirt
PROMOTION
SYSTEM
There are two types of advancement within the Los Angeles
Police Department: (1) promotion and (2) assignment to a
higher pay grade. "Promotion" refers to an advance from one
Civil Service class to another, such as from Police Officer to
Detective or Sergeant. Promotion is always from an eligible list
established by the Personnel Department as the result of a Civil
Service examination. "Assignment to a higher pay grade" is
assignment to a position carrying greater responsibility or
expertise, without a change in Civil Service class. Examples
would be reassignments from a Police Officer II to a Police
Officer III position, or Detective I to a Detective II.
Reassignment from Police Officer I to Police Officer II is
automatic upon successful completion of 18 months of service
(the Academy training and field probation period). Most
assignments to higher pay grades are the result of Police
Department internal selection procedures.
RETIREMENT
SYSTEM
 Police and firefighters who have
reached the age of 50, and have at
least 25 years' experience, can
enter the program, which allows
them to keep working and
collecting their salaries while also
collecting their pensions — up to
90% of their salary — for five years
 MECHANISM OF
ERRING AND CORRUPT
POLICE OFFICERS
Internal Affairs Group

INTERNAL AFFAIRS GROUP (IAG) acts as the

investigative arm of the Chief of Police (COP) with
respect to employee misconduct. All complaints are
reviewed by IAG to determine the appropriate
investigative entity. Internal Affairs Group is
responsible for investigating the more serious
complaints of misconduct. Complaints investigated
by IAG are normally divided between its
Administrative and Criminal Investigation Divisions.
FILING A COMPLAINT OF POLICE
MISCONDUCT

A complaint can be filed in person at any police

facility in Los Angeles, Internal Affairs Group, the
Police Commission, or the Office of the Inspector
General. Although it is not required, the
Department encourages community members to
make these reports in person so a supervisor has
an opportunity to do a thorough initial assessment
of your complaint.
The Investigation Process

All complaints are reviewed by IAG before being

assigned for investigation. However, not all
complaints are investigated by IAG. Depending
on the misconduct alleged, personnel
complaints may be investigated by IAG
investigators or at the divisional
level. Complaints not investigated by IAG are
assigned to the accused officer’s division of
assignment for investigation.
Mediation Program and Alternative
Complaint Resolution Process

Some complaints are eligible to be resolved through

Mediation or the Alternative Complaint Resolution
(ACR) process rather than the traditional, fact-
finding investigation. These alternative complaint
procedures, which take place in an informal setting,
were developed to resolve complaints through
dialogue and with the intent to strengthen relations
between the community and the LAPD.