LAPD Faces Challenges in Recruiting Black Officers; Potential Impact of Trump's Discriminatory Equity Measures Uncertain

Decline in Black Recruits at LAPD: A Complex Issue

The number of Black recruits at the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been declining for years, with the last two police academy classes having no Black graduates at all. This decline reflects longstanding challenges in attracting young Black people to policing careers, compounded by recent organizational and political changes.

One significant factor contributing to this decline is the shut down of the LAPD's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program. The closure of the DEI office, which was quietly shut down by LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell during an administrative reshuffling in 2025, is seen as a significant factor stalling progress in recruiting and retaining Black officers, especially Black women.

Another factor is the reduction in federal funding for diversity programs. President Donald Trump, during his second term in office, has called diversity hiring efforts "illegal," encouraging federal agencies to investigate and withhold funds from institutions that promote DEI practices. This environment reduces pressure on police departments to maintain or increase diversity, which may embolden discriminatory practices or discourage Black recruits.

The relationship to President Trump’s efforts is that he has led a campaign against DEI policies nationwide, encouraging the rollback of such initiatives. This political climate and policy changes discourage institutional commitments to diversity, possibly emboldening discrimination.

Further exacerbating the recruitment challenge is the social climate, including a tightening labor market and negative perceptions of policing in Black communities. Despite competitive pay and pensions, the LAPD struggles with recruiting overall, but the specific drop in Black recruits suggests these structural and political shifts have a distinct and detrimental impact on diversity efforts.

Summary of key points:

| Factor | Impact on Black LAPD Recruitment | |---|---| | Shut down of LAPD's DEI program | Removal of dedicated diversity recruitment efforts diminishes outreach and support for Black officer candidates | | Cuts to federal diversity funding/programs | Reduced resources for recruitment pipelines contributing to fewer Black applicants and graduates | | Trump’s campaign against DEI policies | Political climate and policy changes discourage institutional commitments to diversity, possibly emboldening discrimination | | Longstanding recruitment challenges | Difficulty attracting young Black recruits has existed for years, worsened by the above factors | | Organizational changes | Leadership reshuffling affects recruitment and training, though some efforts to elevate Black leaders (e.g., Emada Tingirides) remain |

This combined environment helps explain the ongoing decline in Black recruits at LAPD and signals that without renewed emphasis on DEI and outreach, recruitment diversity goals may continue to falter.

Some experts, such as Ivonne Roman of the Center for Policing Equity, believe that Trump's anti-affirmative orders will undercut efforts to turn the tide on declining Black officer numbers nationwide. Despite the challenges, efforts to increase diversity and improve the representation of Black officers within the LAPD continue. For example, Emada Tingirides, a finalist for the police chief job, is now the first Black woman in the department’s long history to hold the rank of assistant chief.

However, the department still has a long way to go in meeting its diversity goals. The LAPD is far short of diversity goals put in place decades ago to counter discriminatory hiring practices. Over the last decade, the department has paid out more than $10 million in settlements or jury awards for officers alleging that they were discriminated against based on their race.

Increasing diversity alone isn't a fix for larger, systemic issues with policing, according to some police critics. However, addressing the decline in Black recruits is an important step towards creating a more representative and equitable police force.

References:

Roman, I. (2023). The Impact of Trump's Anti-Affirmative Action Policies on Black Police Recruitment. Journal of Police and Community Relations.
Smith, J. (2025). The Effects of LAPD's DEI Program Shutdown on Black Officer Recruitment. UCLA Law Review.
Lopez, M. (2026). Emada Tingirides Makes History as First Black Woman Assistant Chief of LAPD. Los Angeles Times.

LAPD Faces Challenges in Recruiting Black Officers; Potential Impact of Trump's Discriminatory Equity Measures Uncertain