LAPD Continues to Cover Protest Strategies from George Floyd Demonstrations; Potential Legal Actions Push for Modification?
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) grappled with a shortage of crowd control projectiles during the mass protests against police brutality that swept across the city in May 2020. After a week of demonstrations, the department's inventory of rubber bullets, a type of less-lethal ammunition, had dwindled. To address this, two reserve officers were dispatched via private plane to Casper, Wyoming, to procure 2,000 additional rounds from arms wholesaler Safariland, according to emails reviewed by The Times.
The weeks that followed were marred by ongoing unrest, with criticism directed towards the LAPD for indiscriminate use of rubber bullets, resulting in injuries to numerous protesters. Reports and activists condemned the department's response as a poorly planned, inadequately trained, and ill-prepared operation that failed to learn from past mistakes.
According to an analysis of LAPD data released by the L.A. city attorney's office, the actions of the LAPD during the George Floyd protests have cost $11.9 million in settlements and jury awards so far. With an additional multitude of pending lawsuits, the potential liability exposure for the city could amount to tens of millions more.
Five years on from George Floyd's death, supporters of aggressive law enforcement argue that public opinion has swung back in their favor, pointing to the recent passage of tough-on-crime legislation and the ousting of progressive prosecutors as evidence. Last month, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at supporting local police forces as part of his campaign against "criminal aliens."
Meanwhile, efforts to reform the LAPD have stalled in several areas, including plans to overhaul the department's disciplinary system for officers and a proposal to replace LAPD officers with unarmed transportation workers on traffic stops. The controversial policy restricting pretextual stops of motorists or pedestrians remains in place, while the department has taken steps to try to limit dangerous pursuits by monitoring them in real-time.
Despite recent setbacks in reform efforts, the LAPD has undergone some changes in the past year, mainly characterized by a decrease in low-level arrests, traffic stops, and staffing. The department is now 1,300 officers smaller than it was during the time of George Floyd's death, marking the lowest force size since 1995. The L.A. City Council approved a $14-billion spending plan for 2025-26 thatallocates funds for the recruitment of 240 new officers, representing a reduction from the 480 proposed by Mayor Karen Bass last month.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell acknowledged in a news radio appearance that the department has suffered a decline in hiring due to low morale within the organization. He stressed the need to restore confidence and pride within the profession.
Art Acevedo, a former police chief in several major cities, voiced concerns about the recent backlash against police reform initiatives. He attributed the polarized debate to the weaponization of phrases such as "defunding" and "abolishing" the police, which he claimed denied the legitimacy of advocating for change within the law enforcement community.
Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, expressed similar fears about the growing leniency and disregard for the rules among officers, stating that the public's attention and outrage had been diluted due to the constant stream of troubling incidents.
John Burton, an attorney who filed lawsuits on behalf of several protesters injured by rubber bullets, criticized the LAPD for failing to address its culture of aggression and highlighted the lack of accountability for officers who use excessive force, particularly in the face of compelling video evidence. He noted that rubber projectiles were still being used, despite them causing serious injuries and questionable results in managing protests.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
You can also find related articles such as "For Subscribers: LAPD cops shot 21 bystanders in 10 years. How does it keep happening?" and "A slimmed-down LAPD seems here to stay. What happens to crime with fewer cops?" in the "More to Read" section for further context and information on this topic.
- The LAPD's response to the mass protests against police brutality in Los Angeles in May 2020 was criticized for being poorly planned, inadequately trained, and ill-prepared, during which they faced a shortage of crowd control projectiles, including rubber bullets.
- Reports and activists condemned the LAPD's use of rubber bullets, asserting that it led to numerous injuries among protesters and cost the city millions in settlements and jury awards due to the department's actions during the George Floyd protests.
- Five years on from George Floyd's death, proponents of aggressive law enforcement argue that public opinion has swung back in their favor, citing the recent passage of tough-on-crime legislation and the ousting of progressive prosecutors as evidence.
- The LAPD has undertaken some changes in the past year, including a decrease in low-level arrests, traffic stops, and staffing, with the department now 1,300 officers smaller than it was during the time of George Floyd's death.
- The LAPD's controversial policy restricting pretextual stops of motorists or pedestrians remains in place, while the department has made efforts to limit dangerous pursuits in real-time.
- Controversies regarding the LAPD's discipline system for officers and the replacement of LAPD officers with unarmed transportation workers on traffic stops continue to stall reform efforts.
- Attorneys like John Burton, who filed lawsuits on behalf of protesters injured by rubber bullets, criticize the LAPD for failing to address its culture of aggression and hold officers accountable for using excessive force, particularly in the face of compelling video evidence.
