FORMGEN . 160

CITY OF LOS ANGELES
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
C.F. No. 20-0729

Date:

March 10, 2021

To:

Honorable Members, Los Angeles City Council

From:

Sharon M. Tso, Chief Legislative Analyst ~

Subject:

REPORT BY INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, GERALD CHALEFF, OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO PROTESTS IN MAY/JUNE 2020

SUMMARY
On June 30, 2020, the Council adopted a Motion (Harris-Dawson - Bonin - Rodriguez - Ryu,
Council File No. 20-0729) which instructed the Police Department (LAPD) to include an analysis
of LAPD's crowd control tactics and compliance with existing departmental policies and legal
mandates during the civil unrest resulting from the death of George Floyd in May 2020, as part
of the After-Action Report requested by Motion (Rodriguez - Harris-Dawson, Council File No.
20-0686). In addition, this Motion instructed the LAPD to request that Mr. Gerald Chaleff, author
of the LAP D's review of the 2007 May Day incident, take the lead on this report. This review has
been completed, and this office is now transmitting this report to Council on behalf of Mr. Chaleff.
This report has also been transmitted to the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC), who will
consider this and two additional After-Action Reports, one authored by LAPD staff and another
by the National Police Foundation. Both of these reports are expected to be completed by the
end of March 2021. For context, the Council may wish to consider the attached report when all
three reports have been submitted to the BOPC.

Attachment: "An Independent Examination of the Los Angeles Police Department 2020 Protest Response"

SMT:jwd

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An Independent Examination
Of The
Los Angeles Police Department
2020 Protest Response

Report by Independent Counsel, Gerald Chaleff

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Table of Contents
I.

Executive Summary................................................................................................................... 4

II.

Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 14
Section 2.01 Background and Methodology ........................................................................ 14
Section 2.02 Civil Unrest in Los Angeles ............................................................................... 15
Section 2.03 Consent Decree ............................................................................................... 16
Section 2.04 Settlements in Los Angeles .............................................................................. 16
Section 2.05 Department Organization................................................................................ 18
Section 2.06 Incident Command System Concept ............................................................... 19

III. Timeline Summary of Major Events........................................................................................ 21
IV. Observations and Findings ...................................................................................................... 24
Section 4.01 Planning ........................................................................................................... 24
(a)

Public Information and Messaging ............................................................................. 26

Section 4.02 Command and Control .................................................................................... 26
(a)

Command and Control ............................................................................................... 27

(b)

Intelligence ................................................................................................................. 27

(c)

Operations Central Bureau Command Post ............................................................... 29

(d)

Operations Central Bureau Staging Area.................................................................... 30

(e)

Operations West Bureau Command Post................................................................... 31

(f)

Mutual Aid .................................................................................................................. 32

Section 4.03 Public Order Policing ....................................................................................... 34
(a)

Mobile Field Force Configuration ............................................................................... 38

(b)

Shadow Teams ............................................................................................................ 40

Section 4.04 Less Lethal Tools .............................................................................................. 41

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(a)

40mm Launcher Deploying the 40 mm eXact iMpact Sponge Round ....................... 41

(b)

37mm Launcher Deploying the 37 mm Foam Baton Black Powder Round ............... 42

(c)

Beanbag Shotgun ........................................................................................................ 42

(d)

Hornets Nest Sting Grenade, .60 Caliber Rubber Balls............................................... 43

(e)

Less Lethal Use............................................................................................................ 43

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(f)

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Handheld Baton .......................................................................................................... 45

Section 4.05 Planning for Mass Arrests and Citations ......................................................... 46
(a)

Citations Related to Mass Arrests .............................................................................. 46

(b)

Transportation of Arrestees ....................................................................................... 48

(c)

Field Jails ..................................................................................................................... 49

Section 4.06 Preparedness and Training .............................................................................. 50
Section 4.07 Wellness........................................................................................................... 53
Section 4.08 Community Input ............................................................................................. 56
V.

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 57

VI. List of Findings ........................................................................................................................ 58
VII. Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 65
VIII. Appendix ................................................................................................................................. 76
Appendix 1: Review Team Members and Other Contributors .......................................... 76
Appendix 2: Methodology and Limitations ........................................................................ 79
Appendix 3: 1992 After-Action Report Findings ................................................................ 81
Appendix 4: 2001 Consent Decree Details ......................................................................... 82
Appendix 5: 2000 DNC National Lawyers Guild Settlement Information .......................... 83
Appendix 6: 2007 MacArthur Park Settlement .................................................................. 84
Appendix 7: 2011 Occupy Los Angeles............................................................................... 85
Appendix 8: 2014 Ferguson................................................................................................ 86
Appendix 9: Key Terms ....................................................................................................... 87
Appendix 10: Incident Command System Structures .......................................................... 91
Appendix 11: LAPD and FEMA National Concepts of Emergency Management ................. 93
Appendix 12: LAPD Less Lethal Tools ................................................................................... 94
Appendix 13: History of Training 1992-2020 ....................................................................... 96
IX. Bibliography ............................................................................................................................ 99

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I. Executive Summary
The death of George Floyd sparked protests across the United States. The protests in Los Angeles began
on May 27, 2020 and continued for many weeks. In Los Angeles there were many peaceful protests, but
some erupted in violence, arson, looting and vandalism. On June 30, the Los Angeles City Council
approved a motion that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) prepare an after action report, and
that Gerald Chaleff lead the review of the Department’s actions during the protests. This report has
been prepared pursuant to that motion, although the Department ultimately decided to prepare its own
report. Because of that decision, an independent review team was assembled to prepare this report.
In the protests in Los Angeles in May-June 2020, there were small groups that were primarily
responsible for the violence and criminal activity, which resulted in the disruption of protestors’ ability
to exercise their First Amendment rights. Additionally, these disrupters were throwing dangerous
objects at the police. The level of violence committed by these small groups had not been seen at
demonstrations in years. The lack of adequate planning and preparation caused the Department to be
reactive, rather than proactive, and inhibited the Department’s ability to have better control over the
violence being committed by small groups of individuals whose objectives were to create chaos and
confrontation with the police.
Additionally, looting occurred that appeared to be well coordinated with “scouts” and convoys of up to
ten cars targeting a given location. It was also believed that some of the organized looting was gang
related while other looting seemed to be opportunistic. When the police responded to interdict or make
arrests the looters would quickly disperse only to regroup elsewhere to attack another target. The
Department initially did not have enough resources or strategies to contain the looting. Eventually using
tactics developed by the air unit observers, officers were able to make arrests and reduce the amount of
looting that occurred.
The Review Team found deficiencies in the following areas that impacted the Department’s actions
during the protests: (1) planning, (2) command and control, (3) public order policing, (4) less lethal tools,
(5) mass arrests, (6) preparedness and training and (7) wellness.
PLANNING
It appears the Department believed that if protests arising out of George Floyd’s death occurred in Los
Angeles, they all would be peaceful. In interviews with the Review Team, interviewees said they were
surprised at the violence that occurred in the afternoon and evening hours at some protests. They had
believed that the good relationships which had been developed with various communities would cause
any protests to be peaceful, as they had been in the past.
There had been widely publicized violence in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 26, and protests were
beginning across the country. However, the next day (Wednesday) the Department treated the weekly
racial justice protest at the Office of the District Attorney, which had always been peaceful, as if it were
business as usual. Even after some protestors left the District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday and
began to engage in violent or otherwise unlawful activity in downtown Los Angeles, necessitating the

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declaration of a tactical alert, the Department still did not seem to believe that widespread or violent
protests would occur in Los Angeles. For example, the Department did not establish a fully staffed
command post until Saturday night, May 30.
On May 27 and 28, the protests in downtown Los Angeles were marred by an escalating level of violence
and criminality. Initially, the Department treated these as isolated incidents, rather than as a
manifestation of a larger expression of outrage that was spreading across the United States.
When the Department did begin to set up a command post, on Friday, May 29, the assigned personnel
did not have the experience or training to execute what needed to be done to successfully run a
command post. At that time, the Department designated the Central Bureau command post as the
Department area command, giving it the authority to oversee police operations for the entire City. This
required those running the Central Bureau command post to manage competing responsibilities,
juggling the needs of the Central Bureau divisions (downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding area)
with the Department’s needs City-wide. If the Department had planned for protests across the City, it
would have created an area command structure to oversee the whole City and would not have placed
the burden on Central Bureau to manage both.
Another example of lack of planning was creating the staging area downtown, at Dodger Stadium, and
requiring all personnel to report there before being assigned to protest locations. This was problematic
because officers wasted valuable time driving from their areas of assignment to Dodger Stadium, and
then back to their respective areas. This occurred because the Department did not seem to anticipate
for protests in parts of Los Angeles other than downtown.
Even as some of the protests began to intensify, the Department failed to properly plan in a number of
other areas. For example, the Department did not consult with the City Attorney for advice on the
proper charge for arrests. This caused the Department to arrest people for violating Los Angeles
Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 80.02 (failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer) which is an
infraction. An infraction, pursuant to the California Penal Code (PC), only requires the arrestee to
provide proof of identification and sign a promise to appear, in order to be released. It does not
authorize the transportation of the person to another site or prolonged detention of the person, both of
which occurred during the May-June protests.
The Department also failed to appropriately plan for field jails, in the event the need for mass arrests
were to arise. This further impacted operations, because there was not a plan in place for buses to
transport those arrested out of the protest areas to be processed. The need for buses for a mass arrest
situation is not new for the Department. It has been a problem at large events over the past decade, as
evidenced by prior litigation settlements.1 Preparation and/or planning for large scale protests that

1

The City and the Department settled lawsuits in 2011 involving arrests at the Occupy LA encampment, and in 2014 during
protests about the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, where the detention of arrestees for hours while handcuffed,
deprived of water and the use of bathroom facilities, were the main issue.

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posed a likelihood of mass arrests was even more important during the time period reviewed because of
the existence of a pandemic and the possibility of exposure to the Covid-19 virus.
COMMAND and CONTROL
When confronted by multiple large scale events, it is important that there be a clear chain of command,
where everyone knows who is in charge, and those in charge provide clear direction. This did not
consistently occur during the protests. There were times when command staff officers arrived on the
scene of a protest and issued orders without coordination with the incident commander, who was
supposed to be in charge of the entire police response to a protest. This created confusion. Multiple
command staff officers gave orders, sometimes conflicting, regarding the same protest.
Members of the LAPD command staff confirmed that they did not always know who was in charge,
which led to a chaos of command. In some instances, resources were allocated to a location or tasked by
one command staff member, and those decisions were subsequently contradicted by another command
staff member, who sent the same resources somewhere else.
For example, on at least two occasions, high-ranking officers self-deployed directly to the field,
bypassing the command post, and made tactical decisions. In some instances, the directions given by
these high-ranking officers conflicted with directions and actions being undertaken by personnel in the
field, who were acting at the direction of the incident commander. As one command officer indicated,
he was in the field working on a problem for an extended period when a higher-ranking officer arrived
and tried to enact different tactical plans, creating confusion where disorder was already occurring.
While it is understood that these situations were highly chaotic and volatile, the duty of high-ranking
officers is to think strategically; their limited situational awareness in the field and conflicting tactical
directions only exacerbated the confusion.
PUBLIC ORDER POLICING
Public order policing, also known as crowd management/crowd control, is complex in the 21st Century.
Skills to manage public order are perishable and diminish over time if they are not maintained. The skills
necessary to manage a complex and dynamic situation must be refreshed frequently. In interviews with
command officers, many opined that they lacked expertise in public order policing. Many said they were
not provided with meaningful or relevant command-level training to be able to effectively manage large
scale, complex events that involve violence and criminal activities. The Department did not adequately
prepare the Department command staff for events such as those faced in May-June.
Between 2018 and 2020, the Department experienced the departure of a number of high-ranking
officers with expertise in public order policing. During that time period, two assistant chiefs, six deputy
chiefs, and numerous commanders and captains left the Department, representing an attrition rate of
nearly 50%. Some left as their time expired in the irrevocable Deferred Retirement Option Program
(DROP); others chose to leave for early retirement; and some left to pursue other career opportunities.
This has posed, and continues to pose, a significant leadership challenge.

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Although there are still a few high-level personnel within the LAPD with expertise in public order
policing, attempts to ensure that the expertise, lessons learned, and historical knowledge is not lost
must be a Department priority. The Department should ensure that, as retirements occur and
promotions and assignments are made, the necessary expertise and experience is retained in all areas,
not just crowd management.
The expertise, skills, and experience necessary to manage a peaceful protest are different from the skills
required to manage a protest that is violent and hostile. The lack of expertise and experience in this area
impacted the Department’s ability to control the protests and, in particular, to prevent the criminal
element from creating the chaos and violence that ultimately occurred.
Actionable intelligence is necessary for the success of public order policing. The Department suffered
from a lack of useable intelligence leading up to the protests, which dramatically impacted LAPD’s
operational effectiveness. There has been a degradation of LAPD’s intelligence function because of
cutbacks of numerous positions to better support patrol operations. During the period that is the
subject of this report, there was a notable lack of specific actionable information available for incident
commanders. Accordingly, the LAPD could not reliably plan where or how to dedicate resources to
manage the demonstrations.
The Department faced small groups of disrupters within the larger group of protesters at several
demonstrations. These groups of disrupters often intermingled throughout the crowd, throwing objects,
while those standing in the front were shouting with their hands up in a non-threatening manner. It
became exceedingly difficult to isolate and remove the problem individuals from those who were there
to exercise their First Amendment rights.
Additionally, the traditional Department strategy used in crowd control incidents utilizes lines of officers
(skirmish lines) as a blocking force and/or to move or push crowds and in some instances to protect
property. Skirmish lines are often static but will move at a slow pace to direct crowd movement. At the
protests in 2020, skirmish lines were effective during the peaceful demonstrations when used to control
the direction of the movement of the protestors. When violence erupted at some of the protests, these
static or slow-moving skirmish lines were ineffective because they were not able to isolate and arrest
those who were committing the criminal acts. Some interviewed for this report stated that the
“Napoleonic-style static skirmish line” was useless in controlling the small groups of violent agitators
placing protestors and police at risk.
At times, the Department did not, or was not able to, isolate and arrest those criminal elements who
were throwing objects, creating violence, or looting due in part to the use of antiquated tactics and lack
of training on public order policing. On some occasions, when undercover officers were able to identify
criminal activity, they were unable to directly communicate with supervisors on the front line because of
their reporting protocols. This did not allow for instantaneous or even quick responses from uniformed
personnel. Also, because of the hostility of some of those disrupters in the crowd the safety of
undercover officers was threatened and at times officers had to be removed from the violence.

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LESS LETHAL TOOLS
The LAPD used a variety of less lethal munitions and tools during the protests of 2020, including batons,
bean bag shotguns, 37mm and 40mm munitions, and, on one occasion, a stinger grenade. Collectively,
the LAPD used a significant amount of less lethal munitions during the protests.2 As stated in the City
Council resolution that formed the Review Team, there are reports that people were struck in the face
and head, causing significant injuries, some of which required surgery. Not all people struck with less
lethal munitions during the protests were engaging in criminal behavior. This appears to be in part due
to the complex and rapid movement of the crowds and at times a lack of adequate training on the
40mm system. Multiple lawsuits have been filed regarding the protests in Los Angeles, in which
allegations are made that the Department violated detention and arrest procedures; many of the
plaintiffs claim to have been injured by police action. The plaintiffs who claim injuries state they were
not engaged in the violent or criminal activity.
While this report cannot evaluate each use of force incident or instance of individual injury, it does
attempt to examine the overall use of less lethal munitions during the evaluation period and to provide
suggestions regarding their use. Whether any of the uses of the less lethal tools were inappropriate, or
in violation of policy, is being investigated by the Department, with the Inspector General and the Board
of Police Commissioners reviewing the Department’s investigations and determinations.
Until 2017, only personnel from Metropolitan Division who were certified and trained frequently to
deploy the 40mm less lethal weapon were allowed to do so in crowd control incidents. The use of the
40mm weapon was expanded to routine patrol operations in 2017 for any officer who received training
in its use. The training that was provided, however, lasted only two hours and was embedded in a tenhour integrated communications, de-escalation and crowd control course. The training consisted of
learning how to manipulate the weapon and firing the weapon only a few times at a stationary target.
The 40mm training was problematic for several reasons, including that the dynamics dramatically
change in a crowd control situation when the person engaging in the criminal behavior is not standing
still. There also may be other people in front, behind or to the side of the intended target. In such cases,
the officer operating the 40mm weapon must be very precise in its application to minimize the risk to
bystanders. The use of the 40mm weapon to fire at individuals who are in a crowd situation requires
well-trained, experienced, and highly skilled individuals. Unfortunately, because of dynamic movement
of large, unruly crowds, individuals who are not involved in criminal activity can unintentionally be hit
and injured, which is alleged to have occurred during these protests. To be precise takes practice. Of
further concern is that the policy from 2017 is silent on the use of the 40mm weapon in crowd control
situations.

2

It was difficult to determine how many less lethal rounds in totality were fired as the Department did not provide the numbers
to the Review Team.

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Unlike the 40mm munitions, the 37mm foam baton round may be indirectly fired at crowds of people by
firing or “skipping” the rounds along the ground in front of the group police intending to disperse. This
less lethal tool requires less specialized training and practice to use properly.
The handheld baton is a less lethal tool approved to be used on skirmish lines during crowd control
incidents, to push a crowd. The baton is not authorized to be used as an impact device unless the officer
or another individual is being physically threatened. In the videos reviewed there is no evidence that the
baton use during this evaluation period was inappropriate. However, in lawsuits filed following the
events in 2020, plaintiffs have alleged that the baton was inappropriately used as an impact weapon.
The Chief of Police reissued a Department directive on baton use in the fall of 2020 to reiterate the
policy of baton use in crowd control situations.
One of the recommendations of this report is to analyze the use of the 40mm less lethal weapon in
situations with large crowds, or ones where people are standing close together, and whether the use of
such a weapon should be limited in such situations to individuals well-trained and experienced, as was
the LAPD policy until 2017.
MASS ARRESTS
Thousands of people were arrested throughout the protests without a clearly articulated plan for
detentions, transportation and processing. As a result, those arrested were detained at the scene of the
arrests for hours, handcuffed on the pavement, detained in buses, and taken to remote locations,
without water or the use of bathroom facilities. Additionally, because the protests occurred during the
pandemic, officers and those arrested were in close proximity, not socially distancing, many without
masks and thus at risk of being exposed to the Covid-19 virus.
These problems have occurred in the past; in 2011 with Occupy LA arrests, and again in 2014 during the
arrests in the protests over the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson Missouri. Those earlier protestors
were detained for hours in similar conditions as in 2020. Lawsuits were filed in connection with both the
2011 and 2014 mass arrests and were settled by the City for more than $3,000,000. It is unfortunate
that the same issues have arisen again and again, with the Department being unable or unwilling to
rectify the problem.
The use of LAMC Section 80.02, an infraction, does not allow those cited to be detained for hours and
transported to another location for processing3. Even when the arrests were made pursuant to LAMC
Section 8.78 (curfew violation), a misdemeanor, which does allow for arrest, detention and
transportation to another location for processing, the unreasonable delays and failure to provide access
to bathroom facilities and water remained a problem.
The failure to obtain buses needed to transport the large number of people arrested was one of the
causes of the lengthy detention of those arrested. This failure required those detained to remain

3

Edgerly v City and County of San Francisco, 713F3d976(2013).

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handcuffed sitting on the pavement or standing against walls while buses were obtained to transport
them. This failure also required officers to remain with those detained and removed them from being
deployed to assist with controlling the protest and help prevent violence from occurring. It also
subjected the officers to potential exposure to Covid-19.
The LAPD arrested more than 4,000 people between May 29 and June 2. The Department’s failure to
establish a field jail early to process the large number of people arrested was problematic.4 The
Department arrested a large number of people on both Saturday and Sunday, yet the first field jail was
not set up until Monday, June 1, causing long delays and overwhelming the arrest processing system.
On June 1, a field jail was set up at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), many miles from the
location of the arrests. More than 1,000 people were processed there. The lack of experience and
trained personnel contributed to the lengthy detention of many of the arrestees, causing them to be
released in a location far from their arrest location and in violation of the curfew declaration. However,
this field jail was shut down on June 2, when members of the UCLA community complained. That caused
further delays in processing arrestees. A second field jail was set up in the parking lot of Grace
Community Church in the San Fernando Valley on June 2 to help in the processing. The lack of planning
for the field jail created several problems, including:
•
•

An insufficient number of personnel to staff the field jails.
A lack of properly trained or experienced personnel to adequately handle the large number of
arrests; and

Declarations for unlawful assembly were made. However, there were few arrests for failure to disperse;
the arrests were generally made for failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer and for curfew
violations. The reasons for not arresting people for failure to disperse were not made clear.
PREPAREDNESS AND TRAINING
The Department has a history of legal settlements and agreements that it entered into after lawsuits
were filed in connection with police conduct at large events: in 2000 (Democratic National Convention);
2007 (MacArthur Park incident); 2011 (Occupy LA); and 2014 (Ferguson demonstrations). In each
settlement, there were mandates that the Department correct policy, procedures, and training
regarding various components of the management of protests and demonstrations. The Department did
not maintain some of the requirements from these prior settlement agreements, which in turn caused
problems for the Department in 2020. Crowd control, mobile field force, mass arrest procedures and
less lethal training were all insufficient.
Preparedness demands that an organization plan, organize, train, exercise, and evaluate performance
before any event actually occurs. As such, training and exercising that at one time had been
implemented should have been sustained within the Department over the years, but were not. If it had

4

Field Jails are temporary facilities set up to process large numbers of arrests that would otherwise overwhelm the available jail
facilities and personnel.

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been, the LAPD command staff would have been better prepared for the events of May-June 2020 in Los
Angeles.
The LAPD’s training in public order policing has declined in the past several years and was identified as a
problem in 2007 after the MacArthur Park May Day demonstrations. As a result, the LAPD command
staff were required to receive annual training on public order policing. This training had not occurred for
several years prior to 2020. There had been minimal crowd control and mobile field force training in the
past five years and mass arrests procedures were not exercised at all. The lack of training caused
problems in 2020. Indeed, command officers interviewed for this report raised the issue of the lack of
training to prepare them for public order policing events.
Based on information gleaned during this examination, it is recommended that the LAPD develop a
command-level public order policing curriculum and practice these leadership skills frequently. The
settlement of the 2007 Macarthur Park lawsuits required every officer above the rank of sergeant to
undergo training on crowd control and use of force policies at a minimum of every two years, and
command staff to be trained annually. It is recommended that this requirement be followed.
WELLNESS
Many officers worked long hours during the protests without relief and were sleep deprived throughout
the protests. It is imperative that when officers are subjected to dangerous conditions and provocations,
--such as having objects thrown at them, having lasers pointed at their eyes, and being taunted and
screamed at -- they be at their best, with the patience and judgement necessary to perform
professionally.
Members of LAPD command staff also were subject to long hours and not afforded the opportunity to
get sufficient rest or sleep. The lack of sleep is equally important for command officers, who must make
critical decisions as events rapidly unfold. If they are sleep deprived, decision making could be impacted,
which then has the potential to affect the success of the police strategy and the safety of the officers
they command, as well as the safety of the community.
It is incumbent upon the leadership of the Department to ensure that officers and command staff
members can get the necessary down time for rest/sleep. During the protests, there were situations
where officers were in staging areas but were never assigned to relieve those working in the field. There
were also command staff members who volunteered to work, but were never assigned to the field. The
Department must develop schedules that will allow officers to obtain the relief that is necessary.
Almost every day during the protests there were small subgroups of people engaged in criminal activity;
they used the protests to attack officers by throwing dangerous objects at them including bricks and
concrete blocks, using firecrackers or explosive devices, and pointing lasers at officers’ eyes. The
Department reported that 106 officers were injured during these protests. The Department must do
everything it can to provide for officer safety and at the same time protect the safety of those who are
peacefully protesting.

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The Department has ordered protective eye gear and shields for the officers to use during future events
that might turn violent. The Department should continue to research what additional protective gear is
available to ensure that personnel are protected in the future.
Another important aspect of officer wellness is officer morale and trust in Department leadership. The
Los Angeles Police Protective League conducted a survey, after the protests, that clearly showed that
the officers did not feel supported by their leadership, the Mayor, Board of Police Commissioners, or the
City Council. This is a problem that all involved must consider and try to solve.
RECOMMENDATIONS
There are 67 findings included in this report. The Review Team has proposed 22 recommendations for
the City, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Department to consider. These recommendations
address the deficiencies noted in planning, command and control, public order policing, use of less
lethal tools, mass arrests, preparedness and training, and wellness.
It is recommended that the Department’s public order policing strategies be enhanced to meet
contemporary operational challenges and anticipate future ones. Crowd psychology is a necessary
component of training police to better handle dynamic crowd behavior. The strategies used by some
small groups causing violence during the protests in Los Angeles have dramatically changed from past
disrupters; disrupters now have become more mobile and better organized likely due to the use of
technology, and more violent. This shift has significantly impacted the ability of officers to facilitate
peaceful protestors exercising their First Amendment rights. The challenge for police today is how to
facilitate the exercising of a crowd’s First Amendment rights while at the same time interdicting smaller
groups who are attempting to disrupt the lawful demonstrations. A review of the LAPD Emergency
Operations Guide, last updated in 2009, reveals that there are no plans/strategies for dealing with the
type of highly mobile groups and/or looting convoys that were observed in Los Angeles at some of the
May-June demonstrations. When police strategies and tactics are based on inaccurate assumptions
about how crowds function, these approaches can stimulate more conflict than they prevent,
endangering both crowds and the police.
The Review Team is urging the Department to research and adopt a variety of strategies and tactics that
would minimize the extent to which protesters “transfer” their grievances toward the police. 5 The LAPD
is in a unique position because it is fortunate enough to have a fulltime, large behavioral sciences
section embedded within the Department. Psychologists within this section likely have crowd
psychology experience and should be consulted as the Department moves forward. The Department
should also contact other agencies, academics, and law enforcement experts to identify best practices
and to develop strategies for policing in the 21st Century.

5

Roger Smith, Ian Tomlinson Inquest Proves We Have Moved Forward, L. SOC’Y GAZETTE (May 19, 2011),
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/analysis/ian-tomlinson-inquest-proveswe-have-moved-forwards/60507.

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It is recommended that the LAPD create a high-level executive position (sworn or civilian) with
appropriate support staff within the Department to serve as a “Strategic Emergency Manager”. That
person should have expertise, or be able to develop the expertise, in all-hazards emergency
management, public order policing, large scale incident management, intelligence/information
gathering and dissemination, use of force, use of less lethal tools, and analysis of current events as they
present a challenge to policing operations. That person should be responsible for examining current
events and preparing the Department (and City) to manage large-scale emergency events that occur in
Los Angeles. Though such events do not happen every day, the costs when the Department is not
prepared are too great not to consider such a position. Additionally, the Strategic Emergency Manager
would be responsible to the Department to ensure any recommendations adopted from this report,
prior court settlement requirements pertaining to public order policing, and other Department
policies/directives on the subject, are implemented and sustained.

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II. Introduction
This report examines the LAPD’s response to the protests beginning May 27, following the death of
George Floyd. The report contains observations, an analysis of the events, 67 findings and 22
recommendations with a focus of the following:
1. Planning
2. Command and Control
3. Public Order Policing
4. Use of Less Lethal Tools
5. Mass Arrests
6. Preparedness and Training
7. Wellness
The report also considers the history of the Department during prior protests and civil unrest to help
understand the problems of the past and determine whether the Department learned from its
experience in these events or repeated errors in tactics or mistakes of the past.
This report includes 22 recommendations (see Section VI), however, it will be the City’s elected and
appointed officials and the Department who must determine which, if any, should be adopted. The hope
is that this report will provide the Department with findings and recommendations that will assist the
leadership in enacting reforms that will improve the Department. Unlike the past, where crises were
followed by long periods of time between major events that allowed police leaders to analyze, work
with the community and political leadership, and learn from events, police leaders today are facing a
precipitous growth in the number of major crises they face, leaving little time between events. This calls
for a fundamentally different approach to crisis management that will allow the Department to be more
agile, be forward thinking, and be more responsive to communities they serve.
Thus, it is recommended that the LAPD create a high-level executive position (sworn or civilian) within
the Department known as a “Strategic Emergency Manager”. That person should have expertise in allhazards emergency management, public order policing, and large-scale incident management. This
individual should work closely with the Department executive level officers and the commanding officer
of the Risk Management and Legal Affairs Group to focus on the management of natural disasters, acts
of terror, other large-scale or catastrophic events in which people and information needs to be
managed. This individual should be responsible for examining current events, as well as preparing the
Department (and City) for future crises in Los Angeles.

Section 2.01

Background and Methodology

This report was prepared under the conditions of the Covid-19 stay-at-home orders. Therefore, all
interviews were conducted by Zoom video conferencing or by telephone. The Review Team spoke with
more than 50 members of the LAPD command staff (captains and above). Over 30 members of both
sworn and civilian personnel below the rank of captain or police administrator were also interviewed. All
interviews were voluntary. Additionally, the Los Angeles Police Protective League provided access to
comments in response to an internal summer 2020 survey conducted by the union that represents all

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sworn personnel at the rank of lieutenant and below. The survey discussed officers’ perceptions of what
occurred during the protests and unrest.
In addition to Department personnel, the Review Team talked to members of the community,
representatives from the City Attorney’s office, and attorneys representing plaintiffs in litigation arising
out of the George Floyd protests. Finally, several individuals with expertise in the field of public order
policing, and crisis management were also interviewed. The Review Team conducted an analysis of
hundreds of pages of Department documents and conducted in-depth interviews of LAPD command
staff resulting in findings throughout this report.
This report does not address the issue of discipline to be imposed, if any, on individual officers related to
any use of force or use of less lethal tools or munitions (see Appendix 2 for Methodology and
Limitations). The Review Team does not have the authority to conduct internal investigations. The
investigations of use of force, use of less lethal munitions, and lawsuit allegations will be investigated by
the Department and reviewed or monitored by the Inspector General and the Board of Police
Commissioners.
There were thousands of hours of video contained in nearly 141,000 files from body worn video cameras
and other sources. Although only a small portion of those were reviewed, this did not affect the
understanding of what occurred, as this report is primarily concerned with institutional issues and not
individual ones. The use of less lethal tools and the types of munitions used during crowd management
and control situations will be addressed later in this report. The appropriateness of the individual uses
will be left to the Department to assess.

Section 2.02

Civil Unrest in Los Angeles

To better understand the dynamics of the issues the LAPD faces today, it is important to understand the
history of civil unrest in Los Angeles. Historically, the topics of biased policing and police uses of force
have been of concern in the United States and in Los Angeles. For several decades Los Angeles has been
a rallying point for many demonstrations, including those specifically concerned with police abuse and
the treatment of people of color. The LAPD’s history is evidenced in the 1965 Watts Riots and in the civil
unrest that erupted on April 29, 1992, in the aftermath of the acquittal of officers involved in the 1991
Rodney King beating.
The 1992 civil unrest lasted approximately seven days and is a stark reminder of how fragile policecommunity relationships are and how quickly volatile incidents can unfold. The Department was unable
to contain and control the events for nearly a week. As sections of the City burned and livelihoods were
destroyed, many officers on the front lines watched as the Department was slow, and at times unable to
respond. It was noted in the Los Angeles Police Department After-Action Report 1992 April/May Riot
that a high-level staff officer conducted a meeting with other Department staff and command personnel
a month prior to the release of the jury’s decision regarding the officers on trial and requested that
plans be developed for the possibility of civil unrest if the officers were acquitted of charges. Commands
were advised to train line personnel in civil disorder tactics, revitalize mobilization rosters, update

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employee “call-up” and notification plans, develop a ratio of officers to available police vehicles for
transportation to areas impacted by civil unrest, and develop platoon-size teams to respond to looters.
Unfortunately, only a small number of staff officers within the Department believed there was a
possibility of violence, and therefore the Department did not prepare. The after action report indicated
that the first signs of planning did not begin until 37 days into the officer’s trial even though a
commander had asked for this to occur.
At that time, the LAPD after action report stated the Department experienced organizational
complacency, as few problems with civil unrest had occurred within the City since the 1965 Watts Riots.
The after action report from the 1992 civil unrest contained lessons learned that, like all after action
reports, were to be used to improve the Department’s future response to such incidents (Appendix 3).
Some of the areas include lack of preparation and planning, problems with command and control in the
field, lack of discipline at the command post, organizational complacency, lack of intelligence, and lack
of training for civil disorder tactics.6

Section 2.03

Consent Decree

In 1999 the Department of Justice informed the City and the Department that it intended to sue the City
for a pattern and practice of unconstitutional conduct by the LAPD. The Department of Justice’s actions
were prompted by complaints about police actions against people of color and a corruption scandal,
which became known as the Rampart Scandal.
The result was a settlement agreement, in which the City and the Department consented to monitoring
by the Department of Justice, under the jurisdiction of a federal court judge, to enact reforms of the
LAPD’s policies, procedures, and actions. The agreement, known as the Consent Decree, was enacted in
June 2001.7 It took the Department eight years to be relieved of court jurisdiction for most of the
Consent Decree and an additional three years to be relieved of the remainder. Reforms included but
were not limited to: investigations of complaints against officers; investigations of officer involved
shootings and other uses of force; training; development of an officer early intervention system; control
over the use of confidential informants; supervision and management of units responsible for
investigating gangs, and the development of a program for responding to persons with mental illness
(see Appendix 4 for an overview of the settlement).

Section 2.04

Settlements in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has a history of lawsuits arising from police actions and responses to demonstrations and
protests. The lawsuits have involved the Democratic National Convention (2000), MacArthur Park
(2007), Occupy LA (2011) and the Ferguson protests (2014). Collectively, the settlement agreements
involved the use of less lethal munitions, timely processing of arrestees and declaration of unlawful

6
7

http://documents.latimes,com/los-angeles-police-department-after-action-report-1992-aprilmay-riot/
The Department of Justice Consent Decree, 2001.

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assemblies. The settlement costs agreed to by the City (and Department) totaled over $21,000,000.
(See Appendix 5, 6, 7, 8 for more information regarding the settlement agreements).
Results of the settlements are as follows:
Democratic National Convention (2000). The court ordered that less lethal munitions may only be used
to control persons who are aggressive and/or combative or persons armed with weapons other than
firearms or who are destroying property. Before declaring an unlawful assembly, the incident
commander should consider isolating and arresting those responsible for unlawful conduct if feasible.
Settled for over $5,000,000.
MacArthur Park (2007). The court ordered that warnings should generally be given prior to the use of
less lethal munitions. Less lethal munitions may only be deployed on aggressive and/or combative
subjects in a crowd control situation and to prevent the destruction of property. Less lethal munitions
are not to be used on lawfully dispersing crowds. Before declaring an unlawful assembly, the incident
commander should consider isolating and arresting those responsible for unlawful conduct if feasible.
Crowds shall be given a reasonable amount of time to disperse before being subjected to arrest.
Training was mandated for Metropolitan Division personnel every year, patrol officers every two years,
and command staff every year. Settled for over $13,000,000.
Occupy LA (2011). Plaintiff’s alleged that they were arrested without being given the opportunity to
leave. Plaintiffs also alleged they were placed on transportation buses with tight handcuffs for an
extended period of time and denied access to bathroom facilities or water while held in police custody.
Arrestees shall be released on their own recognizance if charged with only a misdemeanor, pursuant to
PC Section 853.6. Settled for $2,450,000.
Ferguson Protests (2014). Plaintiff’s alleged that they were handcuffed using “zip-ties” (plastic
handcuffs) for extended periods of time, incarcerated for extended periods of time or denied release on
their own recognizance pursuant to PC Section 853.6. Settled for $750,000.
This evaluation determined that the Department had not corrected its historical problems in the
treatment and timely processing of arrestees as agreed to in the Occupy LA and Ferguson Protests
agreements. Despite having nearly a decade to revise and exercise custody procedures, the LAPD did not
have an adequate arrestee processing procedure in place resulting in arrestees being in handcuffs for
extended periods of time and arrestees allegedly not being allowed access to bathroom facilities or
water. The lack of an efficient custody process also adversely impacted field operations as noted later in
this report.

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Section 2.05

Department Organization

The Department is led by a Chief of Police. There are three assistant chiefs or Office Directors who
report to the Chief. The Director of Office of Special Operations oversees specialized divisions such as
Metropolitan, Emergency Services, Major Crimes and Air Support Divisions along with traffic
enforcement and transit services. Another assistant chief, the Director of Office of Support Services,
oversees administrative and support entities
including Training, Recruitment, Personnel, Fiscal
Support, Communications and Custody Services
Divisions.
The Director of Office of Operations is responsible for
the traditional day-to-day policing that takes place in
the City, such as patrol and detective operations. The
Office of Operations is divided into four large
geographic sectors called bureaus, as depicted in
Figure 1, and include: Operations Central Bureau,
Operations South Bureau, Operations West Bureau,
and Operations Valley Bureau. Each bureau is led by a
deputy chief who reports to the Office of Operations
assistant chief. The four bureaus are divided further
into geographic “areas” also commonly referred to as
divisions. Each area is staffed with a senior captain in
charge of all Departmental activities for the area and
a subordinate captain who oversees patrol functions.
Three Operations Bureaus have Special Events Units
where staff are specifically assigned to planning for
special events and unusual occurrences. Operations
Valley Bureau utilizes their Training Unit personnel to
do most event planning. Those persons have
expertise in most aspects of event planning and
create the majority of incident action plans for
preplanned events. Operations Central Bureau
command staff indicated that their Special Events
Unit alone handles hundreds of special events each
year. In nearly all instances, these events are
peacefully facilitated by the LAPD.

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT

BUREAUS AND AREAS
VAll[VllJll',AIJ

VSIIIUIOO
CMIUI.IIUEIU
SOU!lta.Q
" POO:ESTA110H

A list of key terms is found in Appendix 9.

Figure 1: Los Angeles Police Department Bureaus and Areas Map
18

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i:::::::\iaiiiiiiii=:::i-

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Section 2.06

i

Incident Command System Concept

The incident command system is a standardized hierarchical structure that allows for a cooperative
response by multiple entities, both within and outside of government, to organize and coordinate
response activities without compromising the decision-making authority of local command (Appendix
10). The incident command system ensures that the most pressing needs are met and that precious
resources are used without duplication or waste.”8
The incident command system was created in the 1970s to allow fire agencies to meld their resources to
control wildfires.9 The system adopted standardized terminologies, position titles, etc. The system soon
was adopted by law enforcement and other first responders as an organized structure to establish a
command structure over an incident to manage that incident effectively. The incident command system
is now the national standard for organizing and handling large-scale events.
Successful deployment of the incident command system requires individuals with expertise to be
designated to administer or lead the various sections and subsections within the organizational
structure. An incident command system structure is designed to be infinitely adaptable by allowing the
incident commander to create an organization that supports the mission. Incident command system
protocols advise that the structure should be effective by keeping the span of control from three to
seven people with five being the ideal.
The incident command system table of organization that is created for the unique incident designates
who is responsible for each function. According to the LAPD’s Emergency Operations Guide, some of the
essential features of the incident command system are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Common Terminology
Modular Organization
Management by Objectives
Incident Action Planning
Manageable Span of Control
Incident Location and Facilities
Comprehensive Resource Management

8

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Integrated Communications
Establishment and Transfer of Command
Chain of Command and Unity of Command
Unified Command
Accountability
Dispatch Deployment
Information and Intelligence Management10

Overview: The Incident Command System, accessed December 15, 2020,
https://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/olc/moodle/ds_online_orientation/viewf265.html?id=3139&chapterid=90
8.
9 History of ICS, EMSI (blog), accessed December 19, 2020, http://www.emsics.com/history-of-ics/.
10 Emergency Operations Guide (Los Angeles Police Department, 2009), vol. 4, page 5.

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Has overall responsibility for
the Incident. Sets objectives.
Incident

Commander

D e v e lop s ta ctica l
o rga niza tio n and
directs a ll r esources

to c a rry out the

Plann i ng

Finance/Admln

Section

Section

D evelops Incide nt
A c tio n Pla n to
a ccomplis h th e
obj e ctives .

Incident Action Plan.

Pr-o vides
r-e s o urces a nd
servic es needed
to support the
Inc ident.

Monitors
lncide nt~.-e late d

costs . Provides
overall fiscal
guidance.

Figure 211: A summary of the Incident Command Structure
The area command is an important component of the incident command system. It is used in instances
when there are several incidents occurring simultaneously in the same general area and often similar in
nature (e.g., multiple structure fires, multiple wildland fires, collapsed buildings, medical events, civil
disturbances, planned everts, earthquake, etc.). Typically, these kinds of incidents compete for the same
resources.”12 In these instances, an area command is established. The area command places a hybrid of
an incident command system organization over several incident command system organizations
handling similar incidents (Appendix 10).
Unified Area Commanders
(Fire/Law/Public Works)
Public lnfonnation Officer·
Staging Area/Mobilization
Center Manager ..

Liaison Officer·
Safety Officer•

Assistant Area

Assistant Area

Finance/Administration

Commander, Planning

Commander Logistics

Technical Specialist·

Area Command
Aviation Coordinator"optional positions

Resource Unit
Situation Unit

IC Incident #1

IC Incident #2

IC Incident #3

Figure 313: A summary of the Incident Command Structure

11Managing

Large Scale Incidents - Area Command, ICS 420-1.3,
January 2020, https://firescope.caloes.ca.gov/ICS%20Documents/ICS%20420-1.3.pdf.
12 Managing Large Scale Incidents - Area Command, ICS 420-1.3, 1.
13 Managing Large Scale Incidents - Area Command, ICS 420-1.3, January 2020,
https://firescope.caloes.ca.gov/ICS%20Documents/ICS%20420-1.3.pdf.

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III. Timeline Summary of Major Events
This timeline was meant to capture the highlights of the events in Los Angeles and does not represent
a complete list of all events that occurred during the time in review. It was compiled from documents
obtained from the Department and timestamped media footage.
On Monday, May 25, 2020, George Floyd died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and on May 26 protests
began in response to his death throughout the country.
On Wednesday, May 27, protests occurred in cities across the country. At approximately 4:00pm,
protestors converged on the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles, in front of then District Attorney
Jackie Lacey’s office. Although protestors were loud, they were peaceful. At approximately 6:00pm the
crowd had grown to several hundred and began to march towards Union Station four blocks from the
Hall of Justice. The crowd took a turn and entered the Hollywood freeway causing a temporary closure.
As protestors began to march off the freeway, some participants turned violent, breaking the windows
of two California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicles before heading towards City Hall and LAPD
headquarters. By 6:30pm, groups were observed burning American flags, vandalizing City property and
blocking streets in the downtown area. Central Bureau resources were overwhelmed, and the
Department called for a City-wide tactical alert, the preliminary stage of the LAPD’s mobilization plan for
unusual occurrences, holding over on-duty resources. As the crowd became more destructive, the
decision was made to declare the event an unlawful assembly. A sergeant delivered a dispersal order
using a Department sound truck at the intersection of Temple and Los Angeles Streets. The Department
later confirmed to news media that no demonstrators were arrested, despite police headquarters being
vandalized with graffiti.
On Thursday, May 28, there were multiple peaceful protests during the day. At approximately 5:00pm
hundreds of protestors in downtown began to walk towards the 110 freeway, vandalizing CHP vehicles
and ultimately shutting down the freeway. An estimated 500 to 1000 people marched from City Hall and
blocked multiple intersections in downtown. At 8:00pm a modified tactical alert was declared for
Central Bureau. At about 8:30pm there was violence erupting at 7th Street and Grand Avenue, LAPD
police vehicles were damaged, and an LAPD officer was dragged into a crowd. Objects were being
thrown at the police and an unlawful assembly was declared. The group walked to 3rd Street and Grand
Avenue and a second dispersal order was made. Three arrests for failure to disperse and four for
burglary were made.
On Friday, May 29, multiple peaceful protests continued throughout the City. Simultaneously, a group
blocked the 110 freeway, and looting was occurring at multiple businesses in downtown Los Angeles
including jewelry stores, food markets, and coffee shops. The crowd pelted police cars, vandalized
property, set fires and broke windows. LAPD records indicated that 265 people were arrested, and six
police officers were injured. Officers recovered handguns, brass knuckles and bricks during sweeps of
downtown. Less lethal munitions were used during the downtown protests.

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On Saturday, May 30, multiple peaceful protests took place across the City. A Black Lives Matter
demonstration was planned for noon at Pan Pacific Park located at 7600 Beverly, a public green space
located just east of The Grove shopping area and adjacent to the historic Farmers Market. Information
surfaced that there would also be a demonstration at Mariachi Plaza located at 1st Street and S. Boyle
Avenue in the Hollenbeck Area police district and that a plan to take over the Hollenbeck police station
might be attempted.
Thousands of people gathered for the peaceful protest at Pan Pacific Park. By early afternoon violence
broke out when breakaway groups from the larger protest blocked the intersection of 3rd Street and
Fairfax Avenue and surrounded a Department mobile field force which had been sent to the area to
rescue a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bus with passengers onboard. The
bus had been overrun by a group of aggressive agitators. A Department-wide tactical alert was called
due to the need for additional personnel demands throughout the City. A large, organized convoy of
cars arrived in the area and individuals from those cars began to systematically loot local businesses at
The Grove. Looting and vandalism continued there, and groups of criminals set fires, burned a kiosk, and
vandalized stores into the evening hours. Several LAPD police cars were damaged, and some were
burned.
The Mayor declared a state of emergency and implemented a curfew in Los Angeles effective from
8:00pm to 5:30am. As the curfew went into effect, an LAPD police car was set on fire in downtown. At
11:15pm police arrested dozens of people in vehicles in the vicinity of 8th Street and Broadway. Officers
were being pelted with rocks, M-80s, frozen water bottles, bricks, bottle rockets and had lasers directed
at their eyes. KNX 1070 news radio reported attacks on police and journalists, looting and vandalism.
Weapons found on some individuals included knives, brass knuckles, bottles of urine and a pepper ball
gun. The National Guard was requested by the Mayor. A total of 866 people were arrested for looting,
curfew violations, failure to disperse, and failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer. Most
individuals were processed at the Van Nuys or Wilshire Station. Less lethal munitions were used in both
the Pan Pacific Park incident and during downtown protests.
On Sunday, May 31, multiple peaceful protests occurred throughout the day in Los Angeles. The
National Guard arrived during the early morning hours and was deployed to protect buildings and
critical infrastructure. The Mayor lowered the curfew hour to 6:00pm. The LAPD was finding it difficult
to obtain buses to transport arrestees. Looting and vandalism occurred in downtown, and less lethal
munitions were deployed at various locations. LAPD made 700 arrests for curfew violations and looting.
Most arrestees were transported to the Van Nuys jail for processing.
On Monday, June 1, multiple peaceful protests occurred during the day. Violence and looting erupted in
the late afternoon. A county-wide curfew was issued, beginning at 6:00pm. Looting occurred in
Hollywood, Van Nuys and downtown Los Angeles. LAPD deployed less lethal munitions at various
incidents to control the crowd. Caravans were seen bringing criminal activity into the City. LAPD arrested
1,242 individuals, most from those three communities for looting, curfew violations and failing to obey a

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police order. The LAPD decided to create a field jail at the Jackie Robinson Stadium at UCLA to which the
majority arrested were transported.
On Tuesday, June 2, multiple protests continued throughout the City. By 12:30pm violence and looting
had erupted in Hollywood. Projectiles were thrown at police and less lethal munitions were used.
Looting and vandalism were sporadic in various locations throughout the day and into the night
including downtown, the Mayor’s Getty House residence approximately five miles west of City Hall, Van
Nuys, and Hollywood. Approximately 1,500 persons unexpectedly arrived to demonstrate in and around
the Getty House. The demonstrators at Getty House reportedly were loud, but not violent. Olympic Area
had one squad (approximately ten officers and one sergeant) at Getty House. Subgroups from the
crowds in downtown pelted police cars, vandalized property and set fires. LAPD cited several people for
LAMC violations. LAPD records indicate that 956 people were arrested, and six police officers were
injured.
Between the five-day period of Wednesday and Sunday, June 3-7, a total of 80 arrests were made by
the LAPD as peace was restored to the City. On June 4, at 5:21pm, the Mayor rescinded the curfew. On
June 6, a peaceful protest occurred at Pan Pacific Park and on June 7, a peaceful protest attended by
over 20,000 protesters occurred with no problems. In both cases there were no conflicts between the
police and the protesters.

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IV. Observations and Findings
There are seven thematic areas identified from the review providing opportunities for improvement:
(1) planning, (2) command and control, (3) public order policing, (4) less lethal tools, (5) mass arrests, (6)
preparedness and training, and (7) wellness.
The Review Team would like to acknowledge the sworn, including volunteer Reserve Officers, and
civilian members of the Department who worked tirelessly under difficult conditions during the protests
of 2020 in Los Angeles. It must be noted that although deficiencies have been identified in this
examination, most officers involved in the events that are the focus of this report responded to
exceedingly difficult circumstances with professionalism and courage.

Section 4.01

Planning

The potential exists during any large-scale events for events or demonstrations to turn violent. Law
enforcement executives should prepare for such instances by developing tactics and strategies to
effectively maintain peace and public safety while protecting Constitutional rights and civil liberties.
Observations
In the days following May 25, 2020, the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a focus on issues of police
abuse and discriminatory treatment of people of color fell upon all law enforcement. By the afternoon
of May 26, peaceful protests began to develop spontaneously in Minneapolis, as well as in many large
cities throughout the nation. As the day progressed in Minneapolis, the tone of the protests began to
shift. Subgroups of individuals intent on engaging in criminal behavior started to clash with police. At
nightfall acts of violence, vandalism, arson and looting were observed and broadcasted throughout the
nation.
On Wednesday, May 27, the LAPD deployed for a protest in opposition to District Attorney Jackie Lacey
at the downtown Hall of Justice. This recurring weekly protest had been taking place since late 2017.
There is no indication that the LAPD did any additional planning as the result of the death of George
Floyd for the May 27 event. Members of the command staff stated that no additional planning had been
deemed necessary because there had been no violence at the Wednesday protest in the past and the
Department had successfully facilitated hundreds of protests in the City in the last several years with no
problems or violence. Additionally, there is no indication that LAPD had received any intelligence or
information that the May 27 would become violent.
This protest began at approximately 4:00pm. By 6:00pm, it turned violent when hundreds of
demonstrators marched onto the Hollywood freeway, stopped traffic and vandalized two CHP vehicles.
By 6:40pm a tactical alert was called holding over all on-duty personnel. An unlawful assembly was
declared, and the unlawful assembly order was repeated at 7:34pm at Los Angeles and Temple Streets.
The Department had not planned for or deployed for this type of violent protest. The crowd dispersed
after a final warning was given at 2nd and Hill Streets.

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It appears limited planning was done for the 5:00pm protest in the downtown area on Thursday, May
28. The protest led to a modified tactical alert being declared for Central Bureau, and a declaration of an
unlawful assembly. Police vehicles were damaged, an officer was dragged into the crowd, and there
were acts of vandalism.
On May 29, Central Bureau set up a command post to run operations in Central Bureau. Central Bureau
became the focal point of where the Department believed unrest would continue. This was largely
because initial unrest occurred in downtown Los Angeles, and because of a very consistent historical
pattern of demonstrations being limited to downtown municipal facility areas. Because of this focus,
Department executives decided the Central Bureau would act as an area command (a command
structure that oversees and coordinates City-wide events) and be responsible not just for any incidents
in Central Bureau but also be responsible for tracking and allocating resources throughout the City. The
command post did not become fully staffed until May 31.
No other geographic bureaus were directed to establish any kind of command structure or prepare for
possible protests in communities under their command. However, two bureaus did so without direction.
This included one bureau chief directing subordinate commands to contact off duty officers and request
they respond voluntarily to provide extra deployment at critical sites within that bureau.
The pattern of past demonstrations being limited to downtown was disrupted when unrest spread to
West Bureau (most notably Pan Pacific Park in Wilshire Area) and later into Valley Bureau. In addition to
establishing the Central Bureau command post as the area command structure for the City, the
Department had also placed many of its operational resources close to downtown causing delays in
deployment. While the Central Bureau command post was managing Central Bureau events, executive
level leadership should have been planning to set up an area command structure as events began to
unfold across the City rather than placing the burden on Central Bureau.
The Department did not provide documentation indicating that any formal or informal high-level
meetings or discussions took place within the Department or with City leadership to obtain thoughts or
impressions of what the mood of the community was in various parts of the City.
Findings
1. The Department did not follow the basic principles of the incident command system and did
not set up an appropriate area command post immediately when protests became
widespread by designating the Central Bureau as the Department command post overseen
by an assistant chief.
2. The Central Bureau command post did not become fully staffed until May 31. Some
personnel assigned lacked experience and training in command post operations. (All of the
issues with this command post are fully explained in Section 4.02 Command and Control (b)
Operations Central Bureau Command post.)

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3. There was a lack of firm executive-level direction to the Department command officers to
prepare and plan for potential widespread civil unrest and demonstrations which contributed
to the problems cited throughout this report. It is unlikely that proper planning would have
totally prevented the problems experienced in Los Angeles. However, preplanning and
preparation could have mitigated the issues.

(a) Public Information and Messaging
In any crisis, best practice is to have a plan for messaging. Messaging must be transparent, allow access
for the media, and occur on a consistent basis at set times with updates when necessary. The
Department’s messaging should be consistent with City leadership so that the City speaks with one
voice. It is imperative that the messaging explains what is occurring, why actions are being taken and be
accurate.
Observations
The Department’s Public Information Officer was not given responsibility for messaging and was not
asked to contribute to the creation of a Department message. There was no consistent messaging done
by the Department during the multi-day events which allowed various factions to use social media and
traditional media to fill the information void and drive their own messages. Instead of the public being
made aware of the violent nature of some of the protestors, including shots fired at officers and physical
attacks on officers, looting, vandalism and arson, social media sources displayed edited videos showing
what appeared to be officers attacking peaceful protestors for no reason. In any case there was no
response or explanation from the Department or City leaders indicating the full version of the video
showed the officers were actually being attacked.
Findings
4. It does not appear that either the Department or City leaders had a plan for messaging to the
public, to the media or to Department personnel.
5. There was a lack of a unified message from City leaders to de-escalate the violence so that
peaceful protestors could exercise their First Amendment rights.
Note: The Review Team does not suggest that a slanted or biased version should have been presented
by the Department or the City. Rather, messaging by the Department and the City should have been
factual, consistent, and thoughtful, which might have helped in discouraging unlawful behavior.

Section 4.02

Command and Control

It is imperative there be clear lines of command delineated and followed so that there can be unified
and coordinated actions. The incident command system provides clear lines of authority and
responsibility which are critical to follow in large scale events to ensure there is no confusion in the
directions given by the incident commander and the operations chief in their plans to command and
control the incident.

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(a) Command and Control
Observations
In some instances during this review period high-ranking officers, ventured outside their lines of
responsibilities causing command and control confusion. On more than one occasion during the multiday events, command officers appeared at a location and issued orders without coordination with other
command officers, the incident commander, or operations chief. Lower ranking personnel complained
of operating with unclear missions and conflicting orders and at times minimal direction. In some cases,
one commanding officer would intercept resources and redirect them without notifying the original
commanding officer or the command post, creating confusion and incongruent direction to personnel
regarding enforcement, about when, or if, to make arrests, and enforce curfew laws. This confusion of
command inhibited the Department’s ability to control what was occurring.
Findings
6. A lack of clear command and control led to diverted resources and at times, an inability to
accomplish basic policing tasks given by the incident commander or operations chief.
7. The lack of a known and clear chain of command resonated in some incidents examined.

(b) Intelligence
Accurate and timely intelligence is vital to public order policing. Intelligence is seeking out information
(knowledge about a particular fact or circumstance), analyzing it to determine what it means, and then
using it in decision making. The more accurate the available intelligence/information to an incident
commander, the better the decisions on deployment and tactics will be. There are three components of
accurate and timely intelligence/information gathering: (1) intelligence and information must be
gathered (2) analyzed; and (3) distributed. During this review period all three factors were problematic.
Observations
During the multi-day events, the Department received unanalyzed information from the internet and
social media, information shared by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), as well as intelligence/
information from the Joint Regional Intelligence Center, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the
National Operations Center. LAPD geographic bureaus were also attempting to identify relevant
information and forward it to appropriate entities within the Department.
The Department established an intelligence control center on Friday, May 29, at the Central Bureau
command post. However, it was not until May 31 that the intelligence control center was fully staffed
with personnel from the Office of Special Operations and Major Crimes Division. The Department had
taken individuals out of specialized units and reassigned them back to patrol operations before the
events of May-June 2020 occurred. As a result of this managed attrition, the intelligence function of the
Department had been scaled down to a minimal level. One person was assigned to this function at
Major Crimes Division, and one was assigned at Robbery Homicide Division. The Robbery Homicide

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Division employee focused on criminal investigations. Department personnel attempted to analyze
information during the protests, but the amount of information was too great. The Department
currently does not have access to software to assist in gathering and processing information.
Several Department personnel pointed out that there is software available that would assist the
Department in gathering open-source information on the internet, analyzing it and making it useful
intelligence. Requests to purchase software of this kind have not been approved.
Personnel assigned to the Central Bureau command post, those assigned to field duties, and other staff
and command officers gave different statements about how information was received (if at all). This
suggests that the distribution method was not consistent, thereby degrading its usefulness.
Some interviewees stated they sent out e-mail blasts to some command staff members, posted
information on a white board in the Central Bureau command post and provided information at
briefings done at the Central Bureau command post when possible. However, the consensus of those
who were in the field in need of the intelligence was that they either did not receive analyzed
information or intelligence or that when they did receive analyzed information, it was coming too
rapidly to be useful.
Findings
8. The lack of a dedicated unit to analyze information, along with the fact that the Department
does not have software to assist with the analysis, weakened the process and created a
significant disadvantage.
9. Interviews and a lack of any documentation to the contrary support the conclusion that the
Department has no specific or consistent direction on how individual commands are
supposed to monitor the internet and social media.
10. There is no training within the City or Department to develop employees in the skills
necessary to perform the intelligence function.
11. There is no current robust intelligence function to gather information, analyze it and then
distribute it effectively and quickly during large, wide-spread events. While current budget
deficits could prevent the Department from staffing dedicated intelligence positions, it would
be beneficial for the Department to develop a plan on how it would monitor the internet and
social media when staffing does become available.
12. Software and technology is available to analyze the flow of information, which would provide
meaningful intelligence to those who need it during an event.
13. The Department does not have established protocols on how intelligence/information is
going to be distributed during major events so that all personnel know how to obtain the
information and that there is consistency throughout the Department.

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(c) Operations Central Bureau Command Post
A bureau command post should be responsible for all events within the respective bureau. During
instances in which events are occurring simultaneously at various locations throughout the City, the best
practice is to set up what is called an area command post to be responsible for tracking and allocating
resources throughout the City. Responsibilities for the City-wide command post include:
intelligence/information control, logistics, mass arrest response, resource tracking, staging, and working
with the National Guard to establish missions.
Observations
On Friday, May 29, the Department established a command post for Central Bureau at the Buddhist
Temple on 1st Street near Vignes Street in downtown. The command post was an outdoor, temporary
structure located next to the City Emergency Operations Center and the Department Operations Center.
A decision was also made that the Central Bureau command post serve as the Department’s area
command, thus making it responsible not only for all events in Central Bureau but also responsible for
tracking and allocating resources throughout the City. Such a structure went against both the basic
principles of the incident command system, and against past practices of the Department. The span of
control was far too great and placed an undue burden on the Central Bureau incident commander who
was dealing with a complex and rapidly changing situation in downtown.
Interviews established that on Saturday, May 30, discussions were held at the executive-level of the
Department about transitioning to a true area command. An area command would have required each
geographic bureau to establish separate command posts with the responsibility of handling events in
their commands while the area command post would have oversight over the four geographic bureaus.
The area command post would then be responsible for City-wide tracking and allocation of resources
responding to the needs of the four geographic bureaus. The decision was made not to do this as it was
believed the Central Bureau command post was already operating effectively, was staffed, and had
situational awareness. This was an error in judgement. As of late on May 31, personnel were still being
called in to staff positions in the Central Bureau command post. In many cases these personnel did not
have training or experience in the positions to which they were assigned.
Further, had the Department had a properly configured area command structure, each of the four
geographic bureaus would have had a fully operational command post to support their subordinate
commands.
Findings
14. The Department should have set up a separate area command under the direction of an
assistant chief using the Department Operations Center. No information was provided to the
Review Team that any assistant chief assumed formal operational command of Department
operations at any time during the review period. Having Central Bureau act as the area
command placed an unnecessary burden on the entire Central Bureau incident command

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structure. In addition, it exceeded the span of control as recommended by incident
management best practices.
Note: Given the extreme anger and violence exhibited by the demonstrators on Saturday, May 30, it is
doubtful that establishing a true area command on Friday, May 29, would have prevented the criminal
behavior that occurred. But it is legitimate to ask whether, if the appropriate area command structure
had been in place and fully staffed with trained personnel, the Department might have been able to act
more quickly and possibly have mitigated the criminal behavior. The Department did establish the
appropriate area command for the November 2020 presidential election.

(d) Operations Central Bureau Staging Area
In the incident command system structure, the logistics chief is responsible for obtaining necessary
personnel resources, who are then directed to report to a staging area that is under the direction of the
operations chief. The operations chief directs a staging manager to supervise the staging area and the
staging manager is responsible for receiving, organizing and tracking personnel resources prior to
dispatching them to their respective assignments. It is important for the staging manager to be well
trained in and have experience with major events. During such large-scale events dozens, if not
hundreds, of personnel are responding and any delays in getting personnel in and out of the staging
area can lead to further delays in gaining control of the incident.
Observations
Under an area command configuration, each operations bureau would have had its own staging area so
as not to concentrate resources in one location. In conjunction with the Central Bureau command post,
a Central Bureau staging area was established on Friday, May 29, at Dodger Stadium on the same
property that the City of Los Angeles had set up a Covid-19 testing area. Through Sunday, May 31, this
was designated as the Department staging area with all personnel resources being directed there for
assignments throughout the City.
Several interviewees noted that there was confusion at the staging area with long delays for personnel
arriving to their assignments. Several officers commented they spent many hours in staging when they
knew they were needed in the field. In some cases, officers reported they were not assigned appropriate
radio designations, which caused additional issues. According to a Department executive officer, the
problems in the staging area were serious enough at one point that he had to respond to the location to
try to fix the problems.
Currently, the Department does not have any technology or software that can be utilized for processing
personnel coming into or leaving the staging area.
Findings
15. The initial designation of the Central Bureau staging area as the Department staging area was
problematic. Personnel from throughout the City had to respond to this location and in some

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instances were then sent back to their home bureaus or to locations in the City in other
geographic bureaus, outside Central Bureau, causing response delays.
16. Personnel assigned to the staging area in many cases had never received training on how to
run a staging area or command post. They had to devise staging procedures on the fly, at the
very time that personnel demands were the greatest in the field.
17. Problems with the staging area included the location, long delays in processing personnel, a
lack of restrooms and proper lighting and lack of protection from the extreme heat during
the day (temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit).
18. Personnel assigned to the staging area were forced to use paper forms and white boards to
receive, organize, track, and then dispatch hundreds of officers, causing further delays.
NOTE: Personnel assigned to the Central Bureau staging area appear to have done the best they could
under the circumstances. The delays were not because of lack of effort or because they did not try, but
instead appeared to be a lack of preparation by the Department in developing personnel with the skill
sets necessary and providing the support needed to ensure the deployment of a successful staging area.
After several days, the Department moved staging to the four geographic bureaus which is more
consistent with an area command.

(e) Operations West Bureau Command Post
Observations
On Thursday, May 28, the Department received information that there was going to be a Black Lives
Matter demonstration at the Pan Pacific Park on Saturday May 30. At that time, West Bureau had not
established a fully staffed command post at the bureau level to support major incident management,
leaving that task to the individual areas within the bureau.
On Saturday, May 30, the incident commander for the planned Black Lives Matter demonstration in Pan
Pacific Park set up a command post at the West Bureau community room at West Bureau Headquarters.
An event action plan was created for the Pan Pacific Park event and while the plan named specific
personnel for some positions within the incident command system, it noted “TBD” (to be determined)
for many positions. This included the logistics section chief, safety officer, public information officer,
resource unit leader, situation unit leader, documentation unit leader and communication unit leader.
These are key staffing positions to ensure the incident commander and operations chief have situational
awareness and can respond effectively to problems that may occur during the event.
The incident commander responded to the designated staging area at the nearby CBS Television City
studio complex to give a briefing for assigned personnel. It was at this time that problems began to
occur in the field and the incident commander was not able to return to the command post. As the
event became more violent, the command post was transitioned to the staging area. At some point later

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in the afternoon the West Bureau commanding officer responded to the staging area and became the
incident commander.
Findings
19. West Bureau’s decision not to establish a fully staffed command post after two nights of
violent protests resulted in no logistical support for the West Bureau divisions and adversely
impacted their ability to manage the large-scale events.
20. There was a lack of personnel assigned to key event action plan positions for the Pan Pacific
Park protest. This does not mean that some, if not all, positions were staffed; however, it
does raise questions as to whether the command post staff was adequately staffed to handle
this event.

21. The lack of fully staffed West Bureau and Pan Pacific Park event command posts hindered the
ability of the incident commander to manage the extreme anger and violence exhibited by
some of the protestors on Saturday, May 30.
NOTE: It is doubtful that the establishment of fully staffed command posts with well trained personnel
would have prevented the criminal behavior. But it is legitimate to ask the question that if they had
been in place, would the Department have been able to act more quickly and been able to mitigate the
situation.

(f) Mutual Aid
Mutual aid is used by law enforcement agencies to call upon county, state, and federal resources to
supplement their own resources to ensure the safety of the public under various emergency situations.
Instances may include both natural and manmade disasters, terrorist events, and civil unrest. Mutual aid
acts as a force multiplier for the requesting agency to return chaotic situations back to order.
As a general matter, differences between requesting and responding agencies’ respective policies,
policing strategies, and training can create the potential for conflicts between the expectations of the
community and the expectations of the agency in need of mutual aid.
Observations
On May 30, the fourth day of the protests in Los Angeles, the Mayor determined that additional
resources were needed as a force multiplier because the protests turned riotous and the Mayor
requested mutual aid. The Department was assisted by the LASD, other regional law enforcement
agencies and the National Guard.
The LAPD immediately began to prepare for the arrival of the National Guard. Despite the National
Guard numbers rising from 50 to 2,800 in a period of 24 hours, LAPD did a remarkable job controlling
this process. For more than nine days, the National Guard operated with clear missions and LAPD

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escorts throughout the City. The National Guard deployment and LAPD’s use of this resource was well
documented, and the deployment was consistent with the Department’s direction.
The Review Team did not receive information from the Department documenting the activities or uses
of force by the various policing agencies, including the LASD, that responded to the City’s mutual aid
request. However, it is believed that the LASD deployed “pepperball” less lethal munitions. This
munition is not approved for Department-wide use, nor was it used by the LAPD during this time. The
LASD may also have other less lethal munitions that the LAPD does not use and may have deployed
them during the protests in Los Angeles. However, making this determination was outside the scope of
this evaluation. Photographs on the internet and social media posts depicting various expended less
lethal munitions did reveal some of those munitions are not in the LAPD inventory.
The approval for the LAPD to deploy tear gas requires a commander or higher. The LAPD has not used
tear gas in a public order policing environment for decades. The LASD is authorized to use tear gas and
only requires the approval of the incident commander, a watch commander or sergeant. LAPD patrol
personnel are not equipped for operating in a teargas environment and have no experience in doing so.
Should teargas be deployed near officers without the proper equipment, it would cause eye and lung
irritation and widespread confusion. The Department asked the LASD not to deploy teargas in the
downtown protests. It does not appear that the LASD deployed tear gas within the City.
Findings
22. The National Guard activation and the LAPD’s use of this resource was well documented, and
the deployment was consistent with the Department’s direction.
23. The fact that the National Guard operated without becoming the story is a testament to both
the conduct of the National Guard and to the Department’s ability to quickly solve problems
as they surfaced. LAPD’s success in facilitating the National Guard’s deployment appears to
be in large part because LAPD personnel with both military and incident command system
experience were selected to work this assignment throughout the duration of the National
Guard’s deployment to Los Angeles.
24. The LAPD has various settlement agreements (as described elsewhere in this report) that
requires the approval of a commander (or higher) to use certain kinds of less lethal
munitions. The LASD has a lower approval threshold for the deployment of less lethal
munitions that allow an incident commander or watch commander to approve the use of the
same munition.
25. Due to the operational differences between agencies, the LAPD should consider using mutual
aid agencies for fixed position tasks, such as protecting locations freeing up LAPD officers to
engage in more dynamic tactical action (skirmish lines and seeking out roving looters).

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NOTE: It is incumbent on the Department to obtain or review/update mutual aid agreements with
partner agencies, especially the LASD, ahead of time outlining the concepts of operation, use of force
policies, approvals required, less lethal tools/munitions to be used and use of force reporting.

Section 4.03

Public Order Policing

For purposes of this report, the term “public order policing” means the discipline of using strategies and
tactics to manage and control crowds. LAPD’s Emergency Operations Guide describes the Department’s
public order policing mission as follows:
The Department’s mission is to work in partnership with the public to ensure that the First
Amendment rights of all who have gathered are protected and guaranteed by our personnel.
We have the responsibility to the public to protect the lives and property of all people. This will
be accomplished through the fair and impartial enforcement of laws. It is imperative that when
faced with both crowd management and crowd control incidents, those Department personnel
utilize planning, communication, openness, and leadership to accomplish our mission. 14
Public order policing is a complex and challenging endeavor because it entails policing (protecting rights,
enforcing laws, keeping the peace) large numbers of people, often in volatile, evolving, and uncertain
circumstances.
Crowd management, as distinguished from crowd control, means policing crowd situations that do not
involve “civil disorder or unlawful activities”. 15 For preplanned events, representatives of the
Department meet with the leaders or organizers of the demonstration in advance of the event to plan
together to ensure that participants in the event are allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights,
and that the event remains peaceful. In such instances, it is common for the police and organizers to
share plans so that the event can be peacefully managed. Generally, the police are able to facilitate the
crowd through such tactics as stopping traffic and helping plan routes.
Even when the police and organizers work together, there may be instances where individual actors or
small groups in the crowd commit unlawful acts. When such instances occur, because a line of
communication is open between the police and the organizers/leaders, the police can work with the
organizers/leaders to de-escalate the situation by having them “self-monitor” to stop the unlawful acts,
thereby eliminating the need for other policing actions, such as making arrests or declaring an unlawful
assembly.
When the police are not included in the planning of the protests, they should attempt, when feasible, to
identify and work with the formal or informal leaders in the crowd. They should encourage such leaders
to assist with self-monitoring of the crowd, to prevent violence and maintain the safety of everyone
involved. In most cases of ad hoc, unpermitted demonstrations or marches, police can manage the

14
15

Emergency Operations Guide (Los Angeles Police Department, n.d.), vol. 5, page 1.
Emergency Operations Guide, vol. 5, page 2.

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demonstrations and marches to ensure they are conducted peacefully. When members of the crowd
commit unlawful acts, the police then must transition from crowd management to crowd control.
Crowds are typically heterogeneous, made up of numerous smaller groups of people from many walks
of life, and often with different norms and values. This creates a complex problem for those within the
larger crowd and those who are expected to manage the crowd. Police who attempt to manage a large
crowd must avoid the mistake of treating the entire crowd as though they were all part of a violent or
criminal element. If officials view a crowd as homogeneous and impose a direction or an action such as
declaring curfew or an unlawful assembly, conflict can escalate. As such, strategies used by police can
either escalate or deescalate crowd behavior. Understanding the dynamic of crowd psychology should
be a priority of Department leadership training.
The Department defines crowd control as:
When a preplanned or spontaneous lawful assembly deteriorates to the point where there is a
potential for unlawful activity or threat of violence, the Department has a duty to stop this
behavior. The nature of these events has the potential to cause injury, death, damage to
property, and infringement of the rights of other members of the public. The Department must
react in a lawful, measured, and rapid manner to restore order. The objective will be achieved
through the use of appropriate crowd control tactics and the adherence to the law, policies and
procedures. If the situation results in a use of force, the force utilized to arrest violators and
restore order shall be objectively reasonable.16
Basic crowd control tactics include placing officers on skirmish lines to move or block a crowd. The
officers on the line are allowed to “push the crowd” with batons if the crowd encroaches on them or the
crowd does not move. The Department also has authorized the use of less lethal munitions (described
elsewhere in this report) for crowd control. If required, and safe to do so, a squad of officers may enter
the crowd, in what is known as an “arrest circle” to detain an individual. It is in these circumstances that
the Department may disperse the crowd or make arrests for unlawful assembly or other crimes, such as
curfew violations.
Observations
Many command officers interviewed indicated they are used to successfully managing and facilitating
the movement of crowds and demonstrations in Los Angeles. For example, prior to the protests that are
the subject of this report, Central Bureau had experienced anti-gentrification marches in the Hollenbeck
Area, several years of weekly demonstrations supporting the removal of District Attorney Jackie Lacey,
and recent demonstrations about such matters as tenant’s rights and Covid-19. Those demonstrations
were peacefully managed by the Department.

16

Emergency Operations Guide, vol. 5, page 3.

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On many occasions during May-June of 2020, the police become aware of an unplanned or ad hoc
demonstration taking place. In such instances the Department arrived on-scene and gauged the
temperament and conduct of the crowd to determine whether the crowd was peaceful or engaged in
criminal activity. It has long been a standard practice of the LAPD to facilitate unplanned public
demonstrations just as they do with preplanned events. This took place on several occasions throughout
May-June 2020. Notably, an example occurred in West Bureau, when a large crowd of frustrated
protestors marched through an LAPD geographic area to several adjoining jurisdictions only to be
prevented from entering those cities. The incident commander and field commander were able to
successfully facilitate the crowd movement and exercising of their First Amendment right to protest
without violence erupting.
In addition to the formal mission of the Department, one of its informal goals is to “not become the
story”. This means to avoid becoming involved in controversy by unnecessarily interrupting a march, by
using force, or by otherwise diverting attention away from the cause of the organizers and unnecessarily
focusing it onto the Department.
It is notable that most of the many demonstrations that occurred in Los Angeles in the wake of George
Floyd’s killing were peaceful. Community members interviewed said the police generally allowed the
demonstrations to proceed without interference. For example, the Department peacefully facilitated
the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Hollywood on June 7, which was attended by over 20,000
people.
A major challenge for the LAPD was to determine to which of the numerous protests held over several
days to send resources, and then then to determine the mood of the crowd, and how to police it
appropriately.
It appears that on occasion during the May-June protests command officers did not transition from
crowd management to crowd control as quickly as was necessary. Some command officers expressed
reluctance to act quickly out of concern over being unfairly second guessed in the aftermath. While it is
understandable that decision-making can be difficult, there were times when more rapid interdiction of
unlawful behavior would have been appropriate.
With few exceptions, nearly all commanding officers interviewed for this report said that their level of
training and experience was limited prior to these events, and that they did not feel confident in
handling these incidents. The few who felt confident in handling all aspects of public order situations
indicated that their competence came from prior assignments such as Metropolitan Division or via
mentoring from highly knowledgeable peers/superiors. The Review Team was not able to identify any
formal training or mentoring programs in place to ensure that commanding officers are proficient in
being able to provide command and control in crowd control situations.
The community focus of the protests and demonstrations of May-June was the police and the issue of
police abuse, particularly of people of color. Thus, the Department could not always manage the crowd.

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The mere presence of police officers was not necessarily going to quell problems as has been the recent
experience of the LAPD, and in fact led to confrontations on occasion.
In addition, most crowds were leaderless. Some smaller groups in some of the crowds who appeared to
be attempting to commit unlawful acts seemed to be well prepared, highly mobile and coordinated.
Some police commanders, as well as Air Support Division officers, opined that some persons in the
crowd may have been monitoring LAPD radio frequencies, as evidenced by their rapid and coordinated
movements in response to police communications. Police commanders described the behavior of some
groups involved in criminal behavior as similar to “water” where they would commit an unlawful act and
quickly disperse, only to reappear at another location, extremely difficult to contain.
As reflected in media video, and according to LAPD accounts, it appeared that in some instances people
at the front of the crowd directly facing police officers had their hands raised over their heads, while
others stood behind this line and threw objects at police. Many command officers opined that this
appeared to be a deliberate strategy, using the general protestors in front as a shield, possibly without
their knowledge. Such behavior of small subgroups of people engaging in criminal acts and causing
violence, and then hiding behind demonstrators, was a shift from past demonstrations. This behavior
was observed at multiple demonstrations across the nation.
Looting often appeared to be well coordinated. Police commanders observed that it looked like there
were “scouts” in certain areas observing the actions of police and selecting targets. The looters seemed
to be opportunistic and some officers identified gang members in the groups engaged in looting and
vandalism. Convoys of up to ten cars were observed driving together in a line to “attack” one location. If
police responded to interdict or make arrests, those cars (and occupants) quickly dispersed in all
directions, only to reconfigure together elsewhere to attack another target. The wide-spread nature of
the looting simultaneously at various locations made it incredibly difficult to contain. At times, the
Department did not seem to have enough resources to contain the looting that initially occurred.
Findings
26. There were many protests during the evaluation period which the LAPD facilitated peacefully.
27. There was a lack of training to properly prepare command officers for managing large crowds
with the possibility of civil unrest and many command officers stated they did not feel
confident in handling these incidents.
28. The Department culture inhibits those in in a position to make decisions as they are either
afraid to use their best judgment or paralyzed by concerns that they will be second-guessed
by their superiors or they fear “becoming the story”.
29. The LAPD did not anticipate and was not prepared for the disruptive strategies of swift
mobility and coordination of movement used by some criminal groups.

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NOTE: Recommendation No.1 to establish a Strategic Emergency Manager would be key to effectively
addressing all-hazards emergency management facing law enforcement today. It is envisioned that the
Strategic Emergency Manager will keep abreast of emerging trends in all aspects of public order policing
and introduce those concepts to the Department. Public order policing must be enhanced to meet
contemporary operational challenges and anticipate future ones. Crowd psychology is a necessary
component of training police to better handle dynamic crowd behavior. The civil unrest strategies now
used by some groups intent on spreading chaos have allowed them to become more mobile and better
planned than historically has been the case. The challenge for police is to facilitate First Amendment
rights while at the same time interdicting groups who are attempting to disrupt lawful demonstrations.
The Review Team contacted law enforcement professionals and emergency management experts and
found that there are crowd psychology professionals independently looking at such issues. The LAPD
should be doing the same (see Recommendations section for further). The LAPD is in a unique position,
since it is fortunate enough to have a fulltime, large behavioral sciences section embedded within the
Department. Psychologists within this section likely have some crowd psychology experience and should
be consulted as the Department moves forward. The Department also should contact other law
enforcement agencies, academics, and law enforcement experts to understand best practices and to
develop strategies for the 21st Century.

(a) Mobile Field Force Configuration
In the aftermath of the 1992 civil unrest in Los Angeles, LAPD’s Metropolitan Division conducted a best
practices in training for crowd management search. Metropolitan Division then created the mobile field
force concept, which is still in use today by law enforcement nationwide. The mobile field force concept
was codified into the 1993 California Police Officers Standards in Training Crowd Management and
Crowd Control Guidelines and incorporated into multiple documents within the LAPD. Mobile field
forces use crowd control strategies, such as skirmish lines, but are also a more flexible way of rapidly
responding to events. The mobile field force concept was developed to provide a fast and effective
method to assemble and deploy a platoon-size, tactical force. It is adaptable to both planned events and
spontaneous incidents which require the rapid assembly of large numbers of officers. An important
strategy during crowd control events is the use of the mobile field force configuration. The effectiveness
of the mobile field force is dependent upon its mobility. As such, the cars must be staged in a relatively
safe location and the driver’s duty is to stay with the cars to maintain security and be ready to move
quickly if necessary.
A mobile field force is defined as:
•
•
•
•

A platoon-sized tactical force of one lieutenant, four sergeants, and 45 officers who rapidly
assemble specifically capable to respond to events as a unit;
A standalone group that is capable of mobility, physical presence, supervision and command;
Tactically trained and capable of mass arrest; and
Utilized during pre-planned and spontaneous events; and

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•

Capable of deployment within 45 minutes.17

i

In addition to mobile field forces, Metropolitan Division deploys what are known as tactical support
elements. Tactical support elements are used in coordination with mobile field forces or as a standalone
strategy. A tactical support element is a reinforced Metropolitan Division squad of between eight and 22
officers with two sergeants and one lieutenant, with equipment and equipment operators selected
based on the assigned mission.
The LAPD also often deploys helicopters (air units) over public policing situations and did so on many
occasions during the protest that were triggered by George Floyd’s death. Obviously, personnel in
helicopters have the advantage of being able to have a far greater view of events as they unfold on the
ground. A tactical flight officer’s perspective in the air unit adds situational awareness from a unique
position and thus provides tactical communications to officers on the ground. The tactical flight officer is
often a key component of any crowd control situation, as was the case during the review period.
Observations
During the review period, at least six police vehicles from mobile field force configurations were
destroyed by arson and others were damaged. This was in part because no officers were left with the
cars to protect them from vandalism as the crowds were very mobile, overtaking the locations where
police cars were parked. The Department has estimated the repair and replacement cost at nearly
$1,000,000.
Numerous officers interviewed by the Review Team, and many of the LAPD officers who participated in
the Los Angeles Police Protective League survey, stated that they frequently told supervisors on the
ground that the police vehicles needed to be protected by a small group of officers from the mobile field
force configuration. However, some supervisors did not take the advice of their subordinates, creating
opportunity for small groups of problem people to commit crimes of arson and vandalism on police
vehicles, without consequence.
Most command staff interviewed stated that the Metropolitan Division tactical support elements were
used effectively and supported the mobile field forces as they were made up of smaller groups of
officers, thus more mobile. The West Bureau commander who was present at the Pan Pacific Park
protest on May 30 was able to start to control problem areas using the tactical support elements, which
he stated were a “huge help”. The tactical support elements developed a plan based on their situational
awareness, gave a dispersal order, and then, when the crowd did not disperse, they moved the crowd in
the direction of an alley where they could be surrounded and arrested for curfew. A review of dispatch
audio, corroborated by command officer interviews, indicates that the air units from the LAPD Air

17

Emergency Operations Guide, vol. 5.

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Support Division was used effectively throughout the events, helping to coordinate officers on the
ground.
Groups of individuals who engaged in criminal behavior were using new methods to cause disruption
that the LAPD had never encountered before. Thus, it was difficult for officers to separate and isolate
those who were committing unlawful acts. Command and line officers noted that the heavy reliance on
traditional crowd control tactics of skirmish lines, described as “Napoleonic tactics” in which officers
stand in static lines and attempt to push the crowds, were simply not effective during the protests. As
such, the highly mobile groups within crowds, as well as roving looters, made the officers on the ground
less effective.
The LAPD air units developed a tactic to deal with the looters during the Pan Pacific Park unrest which
was then used in other problem locations throughout the City. On Monday, June 1, the air unit broke up
mobile field forces and used other available officers to make small squads of one sergeant and ten
officers. The tactical flight officers identified convoys of looters and then directed the officers on the
ground to intercept and arrest the looters. In addition, once the LAPD was fully mobilized so as to
provide additional personnel, and the National Guard was on-scene, police resources were freed up to
interdict roving convoys of looters. This tactic proved to be effective. The traditional Mobile field force
configuration of 45 officers was not effective in many instances during the unrest of 2020. The LAPD
recognized that the mobile field force configuration needed more personnel to be operationally
effective and keep the cars protected. Subsequently, the LAPD increased the number of officers in a
mobile field force from 45 to 60.
Findings
30. The traditional mobile field force configuration of 45 officers was not effective in many
instances during the protests of 2020 and additional personnel were needed to be able to
protect the police vehicles and manage the crowds. The LAPD has since increased the size of
the mobile field force from 45 to 60 personnel.
31. The LAPD adjusted tactics mid-way through the unrest when the air unit designed a tactic
that broke up mobile field force units into smaller squads. This tactic proved effective.
32. Officers occasionally expressed concern to supervisors that the mobile field force police
vehicles needed to be guarded, however, in some instances these warnings were ignored.

(b) Shadow Teams
Shadow teams are a strategy the Department has used frequently during past crowd management
events. Shadow teams consist of undercover officers who are in the crowd to monitor the mood of the
crowd and to provide operational information to the incident commander. Such a strategy can be
extremely effective if information can be quickly communicated to the incident commander. For
example, the immediate arrest of a few agitators can potentially deescalate an incident by removing the

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trouble-maker intent on creating chaos or engaging in criminal behavior from the crowd with minimal
disruption.
Observations
The Department deployed shadow teams in crowds at various points during the May-June 2020
protests. The use and assignment of shadow teams has been successful historically. During these
protests, shadow teams were utilized by some incident commanders. Many of the crowds were violent
and hostile, which raised concerns about the safety of the officers. There were also communications
problems between shadow team members, and uncertainty about whom they should be communicating
within the incident command system. This created a lack of information that could be acted upon in a
timely manner.
Findings
33. There are no standard Department protocols or training documents on the use of shadow
teams.
34. Communications and information from the shadow team’s observations were not distributed
in a timely manner. The Department now assigns shadow teams and a uniformed cover team
to the mobile field force. This will allow for a more direct line of communication between
shadow teams and mobile field force leaders while providing the shadow teams with a
dedicated security team.

Section 4.04

Less Lethal Tools

Trained LAPD officers were authorized to use four types of less lethal tools during the May-June 2020
events. Those tools were:

(a) 40mm Launcher Deploying the 40 mm eXact iMpact Sponge Round
The 40mm fires a single foam projectile that weighs 0.96 oz and travels at 325 feet per second. The
minimum range for the eXact iMpact round is five feet and the maximum effective range is 131 feet
(Note: LAPD limits this range to 110 feet). The round is intended for direct impact (target specific)
application.18 The 40mm is a standard tool for patrol operations.
LAPD policy on the 40mm is documented in a directive which states that less lethal force options are
only permissible when an officer reasonably believes that a suspect or subject is violently resisting arrest
or poses an immediate threat of violence or physical harm.19 The 40mm shall not be used to target the
head, neck, face, eyes, or spine unless lethal force is authorized. The 40mm launcher may be used in

18
19

40mm eXact iMpact Sponge Round Spec Sheet (Defense Technologies, December 30, 2020), www.defense-technologies.com.
USE OF FORCE - TACTICS DIRECTIVE: 40mm LESS-LETHAL LAUNCHER, 1.

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crowd control situations against a single subject/suspect as a target-specific less lethal option. 20
Because the 40mm round is target specific, it cannot be used to disperse a crowd. The LAPD 40mm
launchers are outfitted with an EOTech sight. The cost of the 40mm system with a sighting system is
approximately $2,000. (A repurposed shotgun that uses a beanbag shotgun round can cost one fourth of
that amount.) The 40mm rounds cost approximately $25 per round making it too expensive to certify
(requalify) the entire Department on a regular basis.

(b) 37mm Launcher Deploying the 37 mm Foam Baton Black Powder Round
The foam baton round consists of five foam rubber projectiles that are discharged at once. The LAPD
uses the 37mm foam baton rounds as a non-target specific impact tool. The LAPD only allows the foam
baton rounds to be skip fired. The range of the round is 15 to 30 feet.21
LAPD policy states in part, “the 37mm foam baton round is a non-target specific round used for crowd
control. With the approval of the incident commander, the 37mm foam baton round may be used as a
crowd control tool when a dispersal order has been issued and/or immediate action is necessary, to stop
violence, to ensure public safety, and restore order.”22

(c) Beanbag Shotgun
The beanbag shotgun is a Remington 870 shotgun which has been configured with a green slide handle
and stock, rifled barrel, and side saddle ammunition holder. The beanbag shotgun deploys a “super-sock
round” which is a 12-gauge cartridge containing a shot-filled fabric bag. These rounds are designed to be
non-penetrating, and upon striking a target distribute energy over a broad surface area. According to
LAPD policy, the beanbag shotgun may be used in crowd control situations against a single
subject/suspect as a target-specific less-lethal option.23
The beanbag shotgun is also a standard less lethal tool/munition used during patrol operations. Most
officers in the Department have been certified during the academy in the use of the beanbag shotgun
trained for use in patrol functions. Like the 40 mm round, the beanbag shotgun is not to be fired at the
head, neck, face, eyes, or spine.

20

USE OF FORCE - TACTICS DIRECTIVE: 40mm LESS-LETHAL LAUNCHER, 2.
37mm Foam Baton Black Powder Round Spec Sheet (Defense Technologies, December 30, 2020), www.defensetechnologies.com.
22 USE OF FORCE - TACTICS DIRECTIVE No. 11.1 CROWD MANAGEMENT, INTERVENTION, AND CONTROL (Los Angeles Police
Department, October 2020), 5, http://lapd-lapd-lapd-assets.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/tac-dir11-crowd-mgmt.pdf.
23 USE OF FORCE - TACTICS DIRECTIVE No. 6.3 BEANBAG SHOTGUN (Los Angeles Police Department, July 2018).
21

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(d) Hornets Nest Sting Grenade, .60 Caliber Rubber Balls
Hornets Nest Sting Grenade (sometimes referred to as a “stinger” round) is a “rubber ball diversionary
device that produces approximately 130 decibels at five feet and emits 1-2 million candelas. In addition
to the light and sound, the device disperses 25, .60 caliber, rubber balls in a 360-degree pattern.”24
The Department did not provide documentation relative to the deployment approval of the Hornets
Nest Sting Grenade round. However, the Department did provide information that states that only the
Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) has this less lethal tool and is authorized to deploy it. There
is some confusion among the Department command staff as to who may authorize the deployment of
this tool in crowd control situations. The MacArthur Park 2007 settlement agreement as well as
information in the Emergency Operations Guide and lesson plans indicate that only a person of the rank
of commander or higher may authorize its usage in crowd control situations. However, there is a belief
by command staff that only the Chief of Police may authorize its usage. Regardless, members of SWAT
deployed rounds of this less lethal tool on May 30, during the Pan Pacific Park situation with the direct
approval of the Chief of Police who was on-scene.
For detailed information on the above less lethal weapons see Appendix 12.

(e) Less Lethal Use
The goal of less lethal tools is to control or stop the actions of the subject while minimizing the potential
for serious injury to the suspect. Less lethal tools may reduce the likelihood of using deadly force.25
The Department was asked for but did not provide the number of less lethal munitions used between
May 27 and June 7. Less lethal munitions were not used after June 3. As of this writing, no accounting of
less lethal munitions has been received. However, rough inventory records indicated that over 3,500
rounds of 40mm and over 6,200 rounds of 37mm munitions were not returned to the Department
armory. Whatever the exact number was, it appears that the Department expended a great deal of less
lethal rounds during the protests.
Of note, the Review Team received information from the Department that there are six serious use of
force investigations (for a definition of categorical use of force incident see Appendix 9) that are related
to the protests. Those cases will be investigated by a specialized LAPD investigative team assigned to
Professional Standards Bureau and findings will be reviewed by the Board of Police Commissioners.
There are over 140,000 body worn camera videos associated with this review period and the LAPD
technology makes it exceedingly difficult to separate out videos related to the various events
throughout the City. Therefore, the Review Team was not able to view every video in which less lethal
munitions were deployed. Thus, the Review Team did not attempt to investigate the appropriateness of

24

Hornets Nest Sting Grenade, .60 Cal. Rubber Balls, Produce Code ALSG10160 (ALS, December 30, 2020), www.lesslethal.com.
Sid Heal, Concepts of Nonlethal Force: Understanding Force from Shouting to Shooting (Brooklyn: Lantern Publishing & Media,
2020), chap. 6.
25

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individual uses of less lethal munitions. Nor could a determination be made about the amount of less
lethal munitions expended other than that a large amount was used.
It is believed that the majority of injuries reported occurred from the deployment of the 40mm rounds
because of the reasons stated below.
The Department first approved use of the less lethal 40mm system in 2000. At that time, only personnel
from Metropolitan Division were authorized to use the 40mm and trained frequently on its use.
The LAPD later undertook a pilot program to examine the deployment of the 40mm Department-wide.
This was largely due to the increased safety of the 40mm round vs. the beanbag round and the
increased effective range of the 40mm. The pilot program was successful. The 40mm system was
authorized for Department-wide patrol operations use in 2017 upon approval of the Board of Police
Commissioners after the Inspector General’s evaluation.
In 2017, when the Department transitioned to the 40mm for patrol, officers were trained during the
Integrated Communications, De-escalation, and Crowd Control (ICDC) ten-hour class. Two hours of this
course was dedicated to the 40mm transition. At that time, the Department also integrated training on
the 40mm in the Basic Recruit Training Course. To the best of the Review Team’s knowledge, the
Department determined that officers would only need to qualify one time during the class to be able to
carry and use the weapon in the field.
A primary benefit of the 40mm system, its greater effective range, is also a factor that complicates the
deployment in crowd control situations. The effective range of the round makes precise, target-specific
shots at distance possible, but also magnifies issues such as marksmanship (or lack thereof) and
movement of the intended target. The movement of others in the crowd creates the potential for other
persons to be impacted by the round. The officer operating the 40mm must be very precise in its
application to strike the intended target and minimize the risk potential to bystanders. Given the longerrange capabilities of the 40mm system and the environment in which the round is used in, a greater
level of training, marksmanship and competency is necessary.
Findings
35. It appears the majority of reported injuries that were sustained by persons in crowds were
the result of less lethal munitions from the 40mm. Many who reported being injured claim
that they were not involved in any violent or hostile acts.
36. Injuries reported ranged from minor to significant, some in the head, the back, the neck, and
the eye.
37. Limited viewing of video indicated that there were instances where officers quickly fired the
40mm rounds at distant targets which increases the likelihood of hitting an unintended
target.

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38. The deployment of less lethal munitions was not always done at the direction of a supervisor
or officer. In some instances, officers were directed to be in front of a skirmish line and left to
deploy less lethal tools, including the 40 mm, with no direction or coordination.
39. Over 7,800 personnel were trained (certified) to deploy the 40mm during a two-hour block
of instruction at the ICDC course. However, the Review Team did not find the two hours of
training to be sufficient given the skill level needed to deploy the 40mm in a chaotic public
order policing environment.
40. Officers are required to be trained one time on the 40mm system. Deploying the 40mm in
public order policing situations requires recurring certification and training.
41. The skill level required to deploy the 40mm in chaotic public order policing situations is high.
Officers must be extremely competent and possess excellent marksmanship skills. It is
unlikely that all officers trained possess the marksmanship skills necessary to competently
deploy the 40mm system under those circumstances.
42. The last training for the 40mm for officers, other than those going through recruit training,
was in 2018.
43. Most supervisors and officers who deploy less lethal munitions are outfitted with body worn
video and could use the video audio capabilities to record information about their use of less
lethal munitions. This should become a protocol during crowd control situations.
44. The Department’s Use of Force Tactics directive authorizing the use of 40mm has no detailed
guidance on use in public order policing situations.
45. The 40mm can be an effective tool in a crowd control situation when utilized by officers who
are well trained and experienced in its use.

(f) Handheld Baton
During crowd control situations the use of the baton is authorized only to push a crowd and not as an
impact weapon unless the officer or another person is physically threatened.
Observations
LAPD personnel used the handheld baton throughout the protests in 2020. The Review Team was not
able to determine if the baton use was appropriate. Lawsuits filed indicated that some plaintiffs claimed
they were hit with batons but were not engaged in any violent or threatening behavior. Any allegations
of inappropriate use of batons will be investigated by the Department.
Findings
None

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Section 4.05

i

Planning for Mass Arrests and Citations

An agency must have a clearly articulated plan for how to handle the various issues related to mass
arrests. For example, the plan must include appropriate transportation, provide access to water and
restroom facilities and have an adequate number of personnel to process arrestees in a timely manner.
Observations
The type of large-scale mass arrests that occurred in Los Angeles in May-June 2020 requires significant
planning. The LAPD arrested more than 4,000 people. Nearly all those arrests occurred during a five-day
period from Friday, May 29 to Tuesday, June 2. The breakdown of the arrests over those five days was
265 on Friday, 866 on Saturday, 700 on Sunday, 1,242 on Monday, and 956 on Tuesday. There is no
evidence, however, that the Department prepared for a situation where mass arrests might be in order.
Even after Wednesday and Thursday nights - when protesters shut down the freeway and vandalized
property, including police headquarters and police vehicles, threw objects at police officers and dragged
one officer into a crowd - there is no indication that planning had begun for mass arrests.
The LAPD’s field jail guide (Volume 6 of the Department’s Emergency Operations Guide) lays out the
planning process that should be used by a logistics chief assigned to an event in which mass arrests are a
possibility. The field jail guide outlines how to set up a field jail unit, which is a temporary unit that must
be stood up to identify and process arrestees, evidence and property in the field. A field jail unit set-up
requires time, equipment and personnel. It requires preparation and planning, and it is essential that
the logistics section within the incident command structure appoint someone with experience and
knowledge to set up the field jail.
On Saturday, May 30, 866 arrests were made by the LAPD. At that time, the Department did not have a
fully staffed, properly set up logistics branch within the area command configuration. This led to the
Department being unprepared to handle the mass arrests.
Findings
46. The LAPD failed to plan ahead for mass arrests, which resulted in a last-minute,
uncoordinated effort to manage the arrests of more than 4,000 individuals.
(a) Citations Related to Mass Arrests
A violation of PC Section 409 (failure to disperse) requires an announcement of unlawful assembly with
a route to leave, and a reasonable amount of time to do so. PC Section 415 (disturbing the peace) and
LAMC Section 8.78 (curfew violation) are sections individuals can be arrested for, while LAMC Section
80.02 (failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer) is an infraction. An infraction is like a traffic
ticket, in that the person arrested is only required to show proof of identification and sign a promise to
appear in order to be released at the location of the traffic stop.

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Observations
The first instance in which the LAPD consulted with the City Attorney as to what charges to use for those
arrested during the protests was Friday night, May 29. At that time, LAPD only inquired about the use of
PC Section 409 (failure to disperse at the scene of a riot or unlawful assembly) and PC Section 415
(disturbing the peace).
On the night of Friday, May 29, however, the Department arrested 265 people for violation of LAMC
Section 80.02, failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer, which is an infraction under the law. In
this instance, the Department arrested, detained, and transported individuals to a Department facility to
be booked or cited, and then released. Many, if not all, of those arrested were detained for hours, while
remaining handcuffed, and citations were ultimately issued at the police facility where the arrestees
were taken. This treatment of the arrestees in 2020 is nearly identical to the treatment of those arrested
in 2011 at Occupy LA, and then again in 2014 during the Ferguson protests, except that in 2020 it
occurred in the middle of a public health crisis.
Over the course of several days of protests, prior to the declaration of a curfew, most of the arrests by
LAPD were for disobeying a lawful order of a police officer. After the curfew declaration on Saturday
night, LAMC Section 8.78, violation of curfew, was the primary arrest section used. Those arrested for
curfew were detained and handcuffed for hours, without water or bathroom breaks, before being
transported to the jail facility for booking. This occurred during the worst pandemic in 100 years and
subjected those arrested, and officers providing security, to be in close proximity to one another for
extended periods of time with the possibility of becoming infected with Covid-19. Ultimately, the looters
were detained and the curfew violators were released. During the protests, very few arrests were made
for violation of PC Section 409, failure to disperse. The reasons for not using this section are unknown,
but it could be that the requirements of the section would have been difficult to meet due to excessively
loud noise levels or not wanting to disperse people out of one area, just to have them relocate to
another area where unrest was occurring.
Findings
47. The arrests made on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were made under a Municipal Code
Section that is an infraction requiring a citation and release in the field.
48. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the LAPD arrested and detained individuals for
exceedingly long periods of time, and transported individuals to a Department facility for
processing.
49. Those arrested were detained for hours while handcuffed and were not provided with water
or the use of bathroom facilities and were held in close conditions without masks during a
pandemic environment.

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50. The LAPD has not corrected the issues related to detention and arrests identified in the 2011
Occupy LA and the 2014 Ferguson protests. Those lawsuit settlements regarding arrest
problems resulted in the City paying over $3,000,000.

(b) Transportation of Arrestees
Factors LAPD considers when setting up a field jail include the number of officers required to process
arrestees. Typically, approximately 50-80 officers are required to handle the intake of 200-300 arrestees
per hour.26 To assist with the timely processing of arrestees, the field jail may activate the Automated
Mass Arrest Booking System (AMABS) whenever the Department has exhausted, or anticipates to
exhaust, its routine capabilities (reached at approximately 300-400 arrestees). The AMABS is a
computer-based system operated by the LASD. When activated, Department personnel need only to
complete the arresting officer’s portion of an LASD mass arrest report and an arrest report narrative. At
the time the incident commander activates the AMABS, it is recommended that they communicate the
need for jail buses to the on-duty watch commander at LASD. This allows time for drivers to be notified
and buses to be scheduled while the LAPD identifies a location for a field jail. LASD personnel and buses
will ultimately transport the arrestees.
Observations
On May 30, 866 arrests were made by LAPD. A request was made to secure buses from LASD for
arrestee transportation. The LAPD was not able to secure buses as the LASD buses were already
dedicated to other functions. The LAPD had also requested buses from the MTA, but, per MTA policy,
MTA will not assist the LAPD unless the LASD has officially refused to do so. After several hours of trying,
the LAPD command post was finally able to secure MTA buses.
The delayed identification of a source of buses caused even longer delays in the field. Additionally, as
the violence began to escalate throughout the City, it became increasingly difficult for the buses to
reach their designated pick-up location, leaving officers in the field holding arrestees for hours while
awaiting transportation. In some instances, officers resorted to obtaining vans from police stations to
remove arrestees from the field.
The lack of buses or other vehicles for transportation also necessitated that field officers remain with
the arrestees for hours. This prevented them from assisting with crowd control efforts.
It appears that minimal pre-planning was done by LAPD in regard to setting up the appropriate mass
arrest organization, including a field jail and transportation plan, until after problems arose on Saturday,
May 30. After three nights of demonstrations, some with significant violence including arson and
looting, LAPD was not timely in establishing the field jail and obtaining the resources needed to operate
it. In addition, on May 30, the Central Bureau command post did not have sufficient nor experienced

26

Emergency Operations Guide, page 1.

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staff to develop the organization needed to manage this growing incident, causing troublesome delays
in getting buses to transport arrestees and processing of arrestees.
Findings
51. The lack of planning and preparation for mass arrests resulted in an insufficient number of
personnel assigned to process the arrestees and a lack of buses or vans to transport the
arrestees to the field jails. Arrestees were seated on curbs while handcuffed for exceedingly
long periods of time before buses were available for transportation.
52. The lack of an efficient mass arrest procedure negatively impacted field operations. Officers
in the field were often forced to maintain custody of arrestees for lengthy periods of time
making it impossible for them to return to crime control or public order policing operations.
NOTE: The current Prisoner Transportation and Release Services Agreement between LAPD and LASD
expires on June 30, 2021. It addresses service fees, contractual requirements and limitations for prisoner
transportation from jail facilities to court locations. It does not include an emergency clause regarding
the transportation of arrestees during a local emergency.

(c) Field Jails
The incident commander must consider several factors when determining the most appropriate location
for a field jail unit. These factors as outlined in the field jail guide include accessibility to the involved
area, proximity to the incident command post, number of arrestees, sufficient space for processing,
detention, supplies, lighting, restrooms and other factors.
Further, the field jail guide notes that,
“Arrestees should not be held at a Field Jail Unit long enough to require
feeding. However, the formal booking facility (Jail Division, County jails)
that ultimately receives the prisoners must be prepared to feed them.
The facility should be alerted if a large volume of arrestees is foreseen.
Liaison should be established with the prosecutor’s office and the local
courts to expedite arraignment of arrestees”.
Observations
West Bureau selected the Jackie Robinson Stadium, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
located in West Los Angeles, as the location to setup a field jail. The location was freeway close, large,
and secure, preventing protestors from wandering in while resources were staging, and arrestees were
being processed. The selection of the UCLA venue was problematic as the optics of using the Jackie
Robinson Stadium, a stadium named after an iconic civil rights movement symbol, to process arrestees
protesting police abuse of people of color was insensitive. UCLA administrators complained because
their students were arrested and objected to the use of the stadium. This resulted in the location being

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used for one 24-hour period before the Department was required to move to a location in the San
Fernando Valley.
The field jail locations were miles from the locations of arrest. People were released late in the evening
and early morning hours during the curfew period, placing them again in violation of the curfew
declaration. Further, there was no public transportation available, and people were not able to call for
someone to pick them up without also placing that individual in jeopardy of being arrested for a curfew
violation.
Findings
53. The lack of selection of an appropriate location for the field jail unit resulted in the Jackie
Robinson Stadium location being used for one 24-hour period before the Department was
asked to relocate, requiring personnel to move to a location in the San Fernando Valley and
set up a new field jail.
54. The field jail locations were miles from arrest locations and when people were released, they
were again in violation of the curfew.
55. Personnel assigned to the field jail had not received training on field jail procedures.
56. The use of the UCLA Jackie Robinson Stadium as a field jail was inappropriate during these
protests.

Section 4.06

Preparedness and Training

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies four phases of disaster management as
Planning
preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. The emergency
Tk"
C
_; , '
a '"lc1f~,~ective
Org\anizing
preparedness phase is defined by the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) and FEMA as a “continuous cycle of planning,
Preparedness
T ..
Cycle
organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking
corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination
during incident response.” Preparedness guidelines “promote a
Equipping
Exercising
common understanding of the fundamentals of risk-informed
planning and decision making to help planners examine a hazard or threat and produce integrated,
coordinated, and synchronized plans.”27 Preparedness is a constant cycle that allows an agency to
prepare for all-risks, all-hazards incidents (see Appendix 11). The concept of preparedness refers to the
ability of an organization to anticipate and plan for effective responses to current, imminent or potential
events. The preparedness cycle specifically refers to the actions such as planning, organizing, training,
etc., taken as a precautionary measure when the organization has the luxury of time.

,~,--,

•

27

-

i'"'"g

FEMA: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans: Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 1010, version
2.0 (November 2020)

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Training should include an all-hazards approach to policing. An all-hazards approach is an integrated
approach to emergency preparedness planning that focuses on developing capacities and capabilities
for a full spectrum of emergencies or disasters.28 Such a training philosophy prepares law enforcement
for a multitude of incidents they may face and creates a more agile response to complex incidents when
needed. Training must go beyond lecture-based teaching of the fundamentals. It is incumbent upon
police agencies to provide training that will prepare and instill confidence in their membership. LAPD
provides its personnel with an abundance of training, much of which is excellent, evidenced by agencies
across the country participating in or seeking out LAPD’s curriculum.
Observations
Post-1992 civil unrest, Metropolitan Division was directed to develop a 16-hour mobile field force and
crowd management course to include lessons learned from the unrest and began delivery to LAPD
personnel.29 By 1993, 6,500 Department personnel had been trained. In 1993 the State of California
adopted the mobile field force concept and the 16-hour training course. As other training demands
increased overtime needs, the mobile field force refresher course was reconfigured in 1994 to be a fourhour, eight-hour, or twelve-hour version of the course to be delivered on an as needed basis. At that
time, the mobile field force training was added to the Supervisory Development School.30
In July 1999, preparations for the 2000 Democratic National Convention began and Metropolitan
Division trained approximately 500 patrol officers and 350 supervisors in the eight-hour mobile field
force refresher course which included crowd control techniques. Sporadic training on crowd
management and mobile field force occurred between 2000 and 2007.
In 2007, after the MacArthur Park incident, the Chief of Police directed Incident Management and
Training Bureau (now Training Bureau) to conduct Department-wide training on command and control
on a regular basis consistent with the California State Commission on Police Standards and Training twoyear training cycle. The recommendation was that scenario-based, classroom and e-learning training
would be viable methods of training. Additionally, command staff officers would continue training on an
annual basis as recommended in the 2007 MacArthur Park report. Due to the Chief of Police’s concerns
regarding command staff’s lack of experience in facilitation of demonstrations and crowd control
incidents, an incident management team mentoring program was introduced. This mentoring program
created teams of command officers who would be assigned newly appointed command staff as
mentees. The incident management teams would then be assigned to pre-planned protests,
demonstrations, celebrations, parades, etc. Those who were inexperienced would shadow the mentors,
providing opportunity for learning and gaining of experience. This program assisted in preparing future
leaders of the Department.

28

The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Continuity Guidance Circular 2(CGC
2) July 22, 2010 https://.fema.gov/pdf/about/org/ncp/coop/cont_guidance2.pdf
29 LAPD Tactical Crowd Control Course, course number: SK 43.
30 LAPD Tactical Crowd Control Course, course numbers: SK 43, 114 & 115.

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During 2007-2009 all Department sworn personnel attended a ten-hour Crowd Management/Crowd
Control course. Areas trained together with their commanding officers in which groups of over 150
personnel at a time would train thus being able to replicate actual field scenarios with large numbers of
demonstrators. Over 9,500 personnel were trained. During this time, all command staff also completed
incident command system training annually. The incident management team mentoring program
continued during that time.
During 2009-2012, the Multiple Assault-Counter Terrorism Action Capabilities ten-hour course
incorporated a brief overview of the mobile field force concept and was conducted Department-wide.
This allowed large numbers of personnel to train at one time, allowing for replication of actual field
scenarios. All officers, supervisors, and command staff were required to attend. Over 9,100 personnel
were trained. Incident command system training also occurred at the quarterly command staff training
each year. The incident management team mentoring program continued, on an informal level.
During 2013-2014, some crowd management training was conducted through e-learning for line
personnel and hands on training in the basic recruit course for all new officers. Incident command
system and crowd management training occurred in the command staff quarterly training each year.
Additionally, a program was introduced to address concerns over succession planning for command staff
called Conversations in 21st Century Policing. Seminars were offered to all command level personnel and
lieutenants in which panels discussed topics such as crowd management/facilitations, building
community relationships, etc.
Since 2015, there is no evidence of ongoing training and/or a mentoring plan for mid-level managers
(lieutenants and captains) or executive-level managers (commanders and chief officers) as was
developed and implemented in the aftermath of MacArthur Park 2007. Both the incident management
team mentoring program and Conversations in 21st Century Policing were discontinued. Other than the
command officer course for lieutenants and newly appointed captains, training on protests, crowd
management, crowd psychology, mobile field force, etc., was sparse. The priority for training had shifted
away from public order policing to other topics. The hands-on training of the past had given way to
more classroom lecture training.
In 2017 the Department required mobile field force and crowd management training to be reduced to a
four-hour block embedded in a ten-hour course, mostly classroom, with some practical exercise. At that
time, the Department introduced the 40mm less lethal system into patrol operations. Two hours of the
four-hour block introduced personnel to the less lethal weapon, demonstrated how it functions, and
each officer fired the weapon. Upon completion of the course personnel were considered certified to
carry and deploy the 40mm. The curriculum was reviewed and found to be silent on the subject of using
the 40mm in crowd control situations.
In most instances during May-June 2020, officers performed as trained. They responded professionally
to complex and dangerous incidents involving large crowds of demonstrators which included those who
were peacefully and loudly attempting to exercise their First Amendment rights, and groups who came

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to engage in criminal acts of violence, assaults, vandalism, arson, and looting. Line personnel responded
as directed by supervisors and command staff.
LAPD commanding officers were not trained or regularly exercised on crowd dynamics and crowd
psychology. Such training and exercising are necessary to manage and take command of public order
policing incidents. This was also noted in the MacArthur Park 2007 report. Public order policing demands
command level training extend beyond a one-day mobile field force/crowd management training.
Findings
57. A review of crowd management curriculum in place prior to 2017 revealed that the eighthour and ten-hour courses adequately covered basic mobile field force and crowd
management concepts and included crowd dynamics. The 2017 four-hour mobile field force
training did not adequately cover the material.
58. In the aftermath of the May-June 2020 demonstrations, the Department conducted a tenhour mobile field force and crowd management course. As of the close of 2020, over 4,000
personnel were trained. The training curriculum is adequate for the basic mobile field force
and basic crowd management topics.
59. Annual, hands on training on public order policing for command staff diminished over time
resulting in many command staff in 2020 not being prepared for the civil unrest.
60. Most LAPD command staff have completed the basic incident command system training.
However, the events of the summer of 2020 make it clear that additional training and
mentoring in crowd control tactics and specific incident command system positions, such as
incident commander, operations chief, logistics, etc. is needed and should be conducted on
an annual basis.
61. The incident management team mentor program was dismantled resulting in numerous
command staff lacking experience with public order policing.
62. Training on the 40mm system use during crowd control situations was insufficient.

Section 4.07

Wellness

It is imperative that those in decision making roles as well as the officers who are in skirmish lines, facing
hostile crowds and people throwing dangerous objects at them, be clear headed, have proper protective
gear, have patience, and not be sleep deprived. Any agency which has emergency medical team (EMT)
programs must ensure personnel are properly equipped to handle incidents in the field for the safety of
the officers and the individuals they encounter.

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Observations
The Department mobilized on the night of May 30, going into the morning of May 31. The process of
deployment of the A-B watch configuration (where A watch starts at 6:00am and B watch starts at
6:00pm) often took hours to accomplish. Most of the demonstrations during this timeframe occurred
later in the day or mid-afternoon and the A-watch personnel were committed to incidents that
stretched far beyond their scheduled end of watch time.
Many officers worked 16 to-20-hour days, some standing on skirmish lines for hours without relief. At
the same time there were officers who were being held in reserve and for unknown reasons never were
deployed. Some remained in holding for entire shifts. Command officers were subject to the same long
hours without relief.
An overwhelming concern from all sworn and civilian personnel is the mental health aspect of the LAPD
and morale. A Department psychologist interviewed said that there has been a significant increase in the
number of officers and civilian employees experiencing mental health problems since the protests. From
a review of the Los Angeles Police Protective League survey results it is clear that morale is impacted by
the Department, the Board of Police Commissioners, and City leaders, with these results:
•
•
•

86.33% do not feel supported by Department leadership (executive leadership and the Board of
Police Commissioners).
99.1% do not feel supported by the Mayor.
99.1% do not feel supported by the City Council.

While some will see this as an important problem that needs immediate attention, others may say that
Department personnel are simply complaining. Nevertheless, the survey results should be taken
seriously by the Department and City leadership.
During the protests, the Department personnel and the media observed that some subgroups within the
crowd and people standing on apartment balconies at various locations used green laser pointers to
attack officers by focusing on the officers’ eyes. At least one officer sustained significant eye damage.
News reports indicate that the officer lost sight in one eye and has balance difficulty and migraine
headaches. The use of lasers in Los Angeles and in other places, such as Portland, was at times
unrelenting.
Some officers were attacked with bricks, fireworks, containers filled with urine, frozen water bottles,
and caustic chemicals such as bleach. One police captain noted that someone fired a firework/explosive
narrowly missing his head; the blast concussion caused the captain to lose vision and hearing for
approximately a minute. Other personnel also noted they were struck with chemicals and/or fireworks.
A review of the injuries sustained by police personnel during the review period noted several officers
injured from projectile strikes, many suffering injuries to their hands.
There were several people (protestors and officers) injured during the May-June protests. Many of the
seriously injured were provided medical care by the Los Angeles Fire Department. However, there were

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instances where the Fire Department was not able to reach the injured individual due to crowd size and
activity. There was at least one incident were police officers provided care to a person during a protest
and other instances where they rendered aid to a fellow officer. It is likely police personnel provided
medical care to other persons during the protest. These incidents are not captured by the Department
in a consistent manner.
In 2014 officers were provided with updated training and first aid kits. As a result, there are several
instances over the years in which officers rendered first aid and, in some cases, saved lives. The
Department identifies expectations that employees “should provide basic and emergency assistance to
all members of the community, including victims, witnesses, subjects, suspects, persons in custody,
subject of use of force, and fellow officers” within their training and experience.31
The LAPD Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program (officers voluntarily undergo additional training
and maintain EMT certification) is also of significance. The first aid kits and accompanying training and
the EMT program are important to support safety and wellness during general police operations. These
valuable resources could potentially play a significant role in addressing injuries occurring during civil
unrest when it may be difficult for the Fire Department to reach the injured due to crowd behavior as
occurred on occasion during the 2020 protests in Los Angeles.
Findings
63. The Department did not appear to have plans in place to relieve personnel in the middle of a
tactical operation. This resulted in personnel at all ranks experiencing sleep deprivation.
64. The Department mobilized using the traditional A and B watch configuration. This caused
numerous personnel to be sleep deprived during the events due to the rigidity of the A/B
configuration.
65. The LAPD ordered special eye protection for every officer to prevent the damaging effects of
lasers. (The City of Los Angeles passed legislation making lasers a prohibited item at a
demonstration, LAMC Section 55.07, which should be strictly enforced during future events.)
66. The LAPD ordered shields after the unrest to better protect the officers from the crowds and
they are being trained in how to effectively use them.
67. The LAPD has a “rendering aid” philosophy and EMT program. There is not a consistent
process to document when officers render first aid during crowd management and crowd
control instances. The EMT program is voluntary and takes effort by the officers to keep their
State certification current.

31

LAPD Training Bulletin: Rendering Medical Aid, July 2019.

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It is incumbent upon the Department that the safety and wellness of officers be of paramount
importance as it is directly correlated to the safety and wellness of the communities it serves. Emphasis
on this critical concern should be a priority as the Department moves forward.

Section 4.08

Community Input

The Review Team had discussions with a number of community members who participated in many of
the demonstrations between May 27 and June 7. Access to these community members was provided to
the Review Team by City Council members who identified them with the belief they would be forthright
in discussing their experiences. These discussions revealed that most of the interviewees did not have
personal apprehension or concern about attending the organized demonstrations. Most of the
participants attended more than one event during this time period and saw people of all ages and races,
young families with children, and older folks watching out for one another during peaceful protests,
enjoying a sense of camaraderie. Some said they wore masks and tried to practice social distancing.
Most of them expected or accepted a police presence but they are not police supporters. They believe
that the current policing system in general is not working and they want a reallocation of community
resources. Most stated that the police need to have more empathy toward demonstrators and not be so
eager to anticipate violence from them. They stated that there is a disconnect between officers and the
community, that police “need to listen to what is said at a protest,” and that to have police watching
them “incites us to say more things and exercise our right to free speech more loudly.” However, they
also believe that when things did escalate during May and June, it was because of “outside agitators”
and “Trump supporters” who came with the intent to cause trouble. It was noted by most that when it
started to get dark, it seemed like a new group of people would appear who were more “rowdy” than
the daytime group. One of the interviewed community members stated that there were intoxicated
individuals and some with mental health issues who caused a lot of disruption at a downtown protest,
and that person gave the police credit, saying, “even then, the police let the crowd get their message
out.” One person left a demonstration at the Hall of Justice after the group started marching later in the
day and she saw a “younger crowd coming in . . . it gave me a bad vibe.”
None of the community members interviewed personally witnessed any violence, and none had
complaints about officer misconduct. Nearly all agreed that the police, while appearing intimidating,
were restrained. “The police gave us a chance to protest and give our planned speeches.”

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V. Conclusion
Looking to the future, public order policing is going to become even more relevant and
complex. Evolving crowd tactics, rising public expectations of police and the increase in civil discord are
but a few of the challenges. This report recommends that the LAPD create an executive-level position of
Strategic Emergency Manager to be responsible for preparing, planning, researching, and exercising the
Department to meet those all-hazards policing needs facing the 21st Century.
It is incumbent that the Department prepare now for events that have a reasonable likelihood of
occurring in the future. As identified in this examination, the LAPD did not prepare for handling mass
arrests, staging of resources, and training in incident command systems. Nor did the Department
provide meaningful strategic public order policing to command officers, mobile field force training for
officers, and 40mm training for patrol officers during public order policing incidents, and otherwise did
not give public order policing the focus that it deserves.
This report does not ignore the fact that 106 police officers suffered injuries from dangerous objects
being thrown at them, lasers used to injure their eyes, and other methods used to injure the officers and
incite the crowd of protestors. Nor does this report ignore the reporting of 141 LAPD patrol cars severely
damaged and six destroyed by fire and other forms of vandalism. It does not excuse the behavior of
those who used the protests as an opportunity to commit criminal acts or those protesting who got
caught up in the violence or hostility. But it does recognize that, despite the provocations, the police
must be able to effectively address those who are committing criminal acts and causing disruption. One
of the fundamental duties of policing is to protect the First Amendment right to free speech, assembly
and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. The shift in protest dynamics seen in
many cities including Los Angeles in 2020, makes protecting First Amendment rights more complex.
Traditional crowd management techniques and tactics seem ill equipped to handle this new trend.
There were three key decisions that worked as a force multiplier and supported the Department in
restoring order in June 2020: (1) the mobilization of the Department personnel; (2) the curfew
implementation; and (3) the support of the National Guard. Although the Department was operating in
a difficult and complex environment there were several notable deficiencies in seven areas: planning,
command and control, public order policing, use of less lethal tools, mass arrests, preparedness and
training, and wellness.
This report encourages the Department to review and evaluate the Department’s public order policing
operational doctrine and training as well as less lethal tools training, certification, and less lethal use
related to crowd control situations. There are 67 findings identified in this report that resulted in a total
of 22 specific recommendations. The recommendations are designed to integrate policies, procedures,
and protocols into the Department culture, so reforms are sustainable going forward. By establishing an
executive-level person with appropriate support staff (Recommendation No.1) who is responsible for
preparing the Department to meet future strategic challenges, it is hoped that the LAPD will seriously
engage in a continuous cycle of improvement.

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VI. List of Findings
Planning Findings
1. The Department did not follow the basic principles of the incident command system and did
not set up an appropriate area command post immediately when protests became
widespread by designating the Central Bureau as the Department command post overseen by
an assistant chief. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 2, 12.
2. The Central Bureau command post did not become fully staffed until May 31. Some personnel
assigned lacked experience and training in command post operations. (All of the issues with
this command post are fully explained in Section 4.02 Command and Control (b) Operations
Central Bureau Command post.) Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 12.
3. There was a lack of firm executive-level direction to the Department command officers to
prepare and plan for potential widespread civil unrest and demonstrations which contributed
to the problems cited throughout this report. It is unlikely that proper planning would have
totally prevented the problems experienced in Los Angeles. However, preplanning and
preparation could have mitigated the issues. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 12, 16.
4. It does not appear that either the Department or City leaders had a plan for messaging to the
public, to the media, or to Department personnel. Related Recommendation No. 13.
5. There was a lack of a unified message from City leaders to de-escalate the violence so that
peaceful protestors could exercise their First Amendment rights. Related Recommendation
No. 13.
Command and Control Findings
6. A lack of clear command and control led to diverted resources and at times, an inability to
accomplish basic policing tasks given by the incident commander or operations chief. Related
Recommendation Nos. 12, 16.
7. The lack of a known and clear chain of command resonated in some incidents examined.
Related Recommendation No. 12.
8. The lack of a dedicated unit to analyze information, along with the fact that the Department
does not have software to assist with the analysis, weakened the process and created a
significant disadvantage. Related Recommendation No. 19.
9. Interviews and a lack of any documentation to the contrary support the conclusion that the
Department has no specific or consistent direction on how individual commands are supposed
to monitor the internet and social media. Related Recommendation No. 19.

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10. There is no training within the City or Department to develop employees in the skills necessary
to perform the intelligence function. Related Recommendation No. 19.
11. There is no current robust intelligence function to gather information, analyze it and then
distribute it effectively and quickly during large, wide-spread events. While current budget
deficits could prevent the Department from staffing dedicated intelligence positions, it would
be beneficial for the Department to develop a plan on how it would monitor the internet and
social media when staffing does become available. Related Recommendation No. 19.
12. Software and technology is available to analyze the flow of information, which would provide
meaningful intelligence to those who need it during an event. Related Recommendation No.
19.
13. The Department does not have established protocols on how intelligence/information is going
to be distributed during major events so that all personnel know how to obtain the
information and that there is consistency throughout the Department. Related
Recommendation No. 19.
14. The Department should have set up a separate area command under the direction of an
assistant chief using the Department Operations Center. No information was provided to the
Review Team that any assistant chief assumed formal operational command of Department
operations at any time during the review period. Having Central Bureau act as the area
command placed an unnecessary burden on the entire Central Bureau incident command
structure. In addition, it exceeded the span of control as recommended by incident
management best practices. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 2.
15. The initial designation of the Central Bureau staging area as the Department staging area was
problematic. Personnel from throughout the City had to respond to this location and in some
instances were then sent back to their home bureaus or to locations in the City in other
geographic bureaus outside of Central Bureau, causing delays in response Related
Recommendation No. 2.
16. Personnel assigned to the staging area in many cases had never received training on how to
run a staging area or command post. They had to devise staging procedures on the fly, at the
very time that personnel demands were the greatest in the field. Related Recommendation
No. 2.
17. Problems with the staging area included the location, long delays in processing personnel, a
lack of restrooms and proper lighting, and lack of protection from the extreme heat during the
day (temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit). Related Recommendation Nos. 2, 19, 20.
18. Personnel assigned to the staging area were forced to use paper forms and white boards to
receive, organize, track, and then dispatch hundreds of officers, causing further delays.
Related Recommendation No. 20.

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19. West Bureau’s decision not to establish a fully staffed command post after two nights of
violent protests resulted in no logistical support for the West Bureau divisions and adversely
impacted their ability to manage the large-scale events. Related Recommendation No. 2.
20. There was a lack of personnel assigned to key event action plan positions for the Pan Pacific
Park protest. This does not mean that some, if not all, positions were staffed, however, it does
raise questions as to whether the command post staff was adequately staffed to handle this
event. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 2.

21. The lack of fully staffed West Bureau and Pan Pacific Park event command posts hindered the
ability of the incident commander to manage the extreme anger and violence exhibited by
some of the protestors on Saturday, May 30. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 2.
22. The National Guard deployment and the LAPD’s use of this resource was well documented,
and the activation was consistent with the Department’s direction. No recommendation.
23. The fact that the National Guard operated without becoming the story is a testament to both
the conduct of the National Guard and to the Department’s ability to quickly solve problems
as they surfaced. LAPD’s success in facilitating the National Guard’s deployment appears to be
in large part because LAPD personnel with both military and incident command system
experience were selected to work this assignment throughout the duration of the National
Guard’s deployment to Los Angeles. No recommendation.
24. The LAPD has various settlement agreements (as described elsewhere in this report) that
requires the approval of a commander (or higher) to use certain kinds of less lethal munitions.
The LASD has a lower approval threshold for the deployment of less lethal munitions that
allow an incident commander or watch commander to approve the use of the same munition.
Related Recommendation No. 1.
25. Due to the operational differences between agencies, the LAPD should consider using mutual
aid agencies for fixed position tasks, such as protecting locations freeing up LAPD officers to
engage in more dynamic tactical action (skirmish lines and seeking out roving looters). Related
Recommendation No. 1.
Public Order Policing Findings
26. There were many protests during the evaluation period which the LAPD facilitated peacefully.
No recommendation.
27. There was a lack of training to properly prepare command officers for managing large crowds
with the possibility of civil unrest and many command officers stated they did not feel
confident in handling these incidents. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21.

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28. The Department culture inhibits those in in a position to make decisions as they are either
afraid to use their best judgment or paralyzed by concerns that they will be second-guessed
by their superiors or they fear “becoming the story”. Related Recommendation No. 21.
29. The LAPD did not anticipate and was not prepared for the disruptive strategies of swift
mobility and coordination of movement used by some criminal groups. Related
Recommendation Nos. 1, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21.
30. The traditional mobile field force configuration of 45 officers was not effective in many
instances during the protests of 2020 and additional personnel were needed to be able to
protect the police vehicles and manage the crowds. The LAPD has since increased the size of
the mobile field force from 45 to 60 personnel. Related Recommendation Nos. 13, 14.
31. The LAPD adjusted tactics mid-way through the unrest when the air unit designed a tactic
that broke up mobile field force units into smaller squads. This tactic proved effective. No
recommendation.
32. Officers occasionally expressed concern to supervisors that the mobile field force police
vehicles needed to be guarded, however, in some instances these warnings were ignored.
Related Recommendation Nos. 11, 13, 14, 16.
33. There are no standard Department protocols or training documents on the use of shadow
teams. Related Recommendation No. 15.
Less Lethal Tools Findings
34. Communications and information from the shadow team’s observations were not distributed
in a timely manner. The Department now assigns shadow teams and a uniformed cover team
to the mobile field force. This will allow for a more direct line of communication between
shadow teams and mobile field force leaders while providing the shadow teams with a
dedicated security team. Related Recommendation No. 15.
35. It appears the majority of reported injuries that were sustained by persons in crowds were the
result of less lethal munitions from the 40mm. Many who reported being injured claim that
they were not involved in any violent or hostile acts. Related Recommendation Nos.1, 7, 9, 10.
36. Injuries reported ranged from minor to significant, some in the head, the back, the neck, and
the eye. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 7, 9. 10.
37. Limited viewing of video indicated that there were instances where officers quickly fired the
40mm rounds at distant targets which increases the likelihood of hitting the wrong target.
Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 7, 9, 10.
38. The deployment of less lethal munitions was not always done at the direction of a supervisor
or officer. In some instances, officers were directed to be in front of a skirmish line and left to

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deploy less lethal tools, including the 40 mm, with no direction or coordination. Related
Recommendation Nos. 1, 7, 9, 10.
39. Over 7,800 personnel were trained (certified) to deploy the 40mm during a two-hour block of
instruction at the ICDC course. However, the Review Team did not find the two hours of
training to be sufficient given the skill level needed to deploy the 40mm in a chaotic public
order policing environment. Related Recommendation Nos. 7, 9, 10.
40. Officers are required to be trained one time on the 40mm system. Deploying the 40mm in
public order policing situations requires recurring certification and training. Related
Recommendation Nos. 7, 9, 10.
41. The skill level required to deploy the 40mm in chaotic public order policing situations is high.
Officers must be extremely competent and possess excellent marksmanship skills. It is unlikely
that all officers trained possess the marksmanship skills necessary to competently deploy the
40mm system under those circumstances. Related Recommendation Nos. 7, 9, 10.
42. The last training for the 40mm for officers, other than those going through recruit training,
was in 2018. Related Recommendation Nos. 7, 8, 10.
43. Most supervisors and officers who deploy less lethal munitions are outfitted with body worn
video and could use the video audio capabilities to record information about their use of less
lethal munitions. This should become a protocol during crowd control situations. Related
Recommendation No. 10.
44. The Department’s Use of Force Tactics directive authorizing the use of 40mm has no detailed
guidance on use in public order policing situations. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 9.
45. The 40mm can be an effective tool in a crowd control situation when utilized by officers who
are well trained and experienced in its use. Related Recommendation Nos. 7, 8, 10.
Planning for Mass Arrests Findings
46. The LAPD failed to plan ahead for mass arrests, which resulted in a last-minute, uncoordinated
effort to manage the arrests of more than 4,000 individuals. Related Recommendation Nos. 1,
2, 3, 5, 6.
47. The arrests made on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were made under a Municipal Code
Section that is an infraction requiring a citation and release in the field. No recommendation.
48. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the LAPD arrested and detained individuals for exceedingly
long periods of time, and transported individuals to a Department facility for processing.
Related Recommendation Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6.

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49. Those arrested were detained for hours while handcuffed and were not provided with water
or the use of bathroom facilities and were help in close conditions without masks during a
pandemic environment. Related Recommendation Nos.2, 3, 5, 6.
50. The LAPD has not corrected the issues related to detention and arrests identified in the 2011
Occupy LA and the 2014 Ferguson protests. Those lawsuit settlements regarding arrest
problems resulted in the City paying over $3,000,000. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 12, 21.
51. The lack of planning and preparation for mass arrests resulted in an insufficient number of
personnel assigned to process the arrestees and a lack of buses or vans to transport the
arrestees to the field jails. Arrestees were seated on curbs while handcuffed for exceedingly
long periods of time before buses were available for transportation. Related Recommendation
Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 21.
52. The Lack of an efficient mass arrest procedure negatively impacted field operations. Officers in
the field were often forced to maintain custody of arrestees for lengthy periods of time
making it impossible for them to return to crime control or public order policing operations.
Related Recommendation Nos. 2, 3, 5.
53. The lack of selection of an appropriate location for the field jail unit resulted in the Jackie
Robinson Stadium location being used for one 24-hour period before the Department was
asked to relocate, requiring personnel to move to a location in the San Fernando Valley and
set up a new field jail. Related Recommendation Nos. 2.
54. The field jail locations were miles from arrest locations and when people were released, they
were again in violation of the curfew. Related Recommendation Nos. 2, 3.
55. Personnel assigned to the field jail had not received training on field jail procedures. Related
Recommendation No. 3.
56. The use of the UCLA Jackie Robinson Stadium as a field jail was inappropriate during these
protests. Related Recommendation Nos. 2, 3.
Preparedness and Training Findings
57. A review of crowd management curriculum in place prior to 2017 revealed that the eight-hour
and ten-hour courses adequately covered basic mobile field force and crowd management
concepts and included crowd dynamics. The 2017 four-hour mobile field force training did not
adequately cover the material. Related Recommendation Nos. 1, 12, 14, 15, 17.
58. In the aftermath of the May-June 2020 demonstrations, the Department conducted a tenhour mobile field force and crowd management course. As of the close of 2020, over 4,000
personnel were trained. The training curriculum is adequate for the basic mobile field force
and basic crowd management topics. No recommendation.

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59. Annual, hands on training on public order policing for command staff diminished over time
resulting in many command staff in 2020 not being prepared for the civil unrest. Related
Recommendation Nos. 1, 12, 14, 15, 16, 22.
60. Most LAPD command staff have completed the basic incident command system training.
However, the events of the summer of 2020 make it clear that additional training and
mentoring in crowd control tactics and specific incident command system positions, such as
incident commander, operations chief, logistics, etc. are needed and should be conducted on
an annual basis. Related Recommendation Nos. 12, 14, 15, 16.
61. The Incident Management Team mentor program was dismantled resulting in numerous
command staff lacking experience with public order policing. Related Recommendation No.
21.
62. Training on the 40mm system use during crowd control situations was insufficient. Related
Recommendation Nos. 9, 10.
Wellness Findings
63. The Department did not appear to have plans in place to relieve personnel in the middle of a
tactical operation. This resulted in personnel at all ranks experiencing sleep deprivation.
Related Recommendation No. 18.
64. The Department mobilized using the traditional A and B watch configuration. This caused
numerous personnel to be sleep deprived during the events due to the rigidity of the A/B
configuration. Related Recommendation No. 18.
65. The LAPD ordered special eye protection for every officer to prevent the damaging effects of
lasers. (The City of Los Angeles passed legislation making lasers a prohibited item at a
demonstration, LAMC Section 55.07, which should be strictly enforced during future events.)
Related Recommendation No. 1.
66. The LAPD ordered shields after the unrest to better protect the officers from the crowds and
they are being trained in how to effectively use them. Related Recommendation No. 1.
67. The LAPD has a rendering aid philosophy and EMT program. There is not consistent process to
document when officers render first aid during crowd management and crowd control
instances. The EMT program is voluntary and takes effort by the officers to keep their State
certification current. The City plays a role in supporting this effort. Related Recommendation
No. 19.

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VII. Recommendations
Recommendations

1

65

Recommendation
Establish a Department Strategic Emergency Bureau to be commanded by a deputy chief or
civilian equivalent who has expertise in public order policing, incident command systems,
liaising with outside agencies, etc. This position should report directly to the Chief of Police.
Rationale
The Strategic Emergency Manager should be responsible for ensuring that the Department:
(a) Is on the cutting edge of organization, strategy, tactics, safety equipment and technology in
dealing with all-hazard events by establishing contacts with personnel within the Department,
throughout the Nation and in the world on this subject,
(b) Is responsible for working with Training Group and the existing committee (Tactics Training
Review Committee) on developing and implementing procedures and training on this subject,
(c) Is responsible for advising the Chief of Police on what needs to be done to ensure the
Department is always trained and prepared for any all-hazard events,
(d) Is responsible for periodic and thorough review of the Emergency Operations Guide. The
position should chair the Unusual Occurrence Evaluation Board as outlined in the Emergency
Operations Guide, Volume 1,
(e) Is responsible for review of all settlements, litigation, and after action reports and ensuring
that items related to incident command system, emergency management, operations and
respective training are fulfilled,
(f) Identifies and reviews safety equipment to better protect officers from anticipated assaults
against them during public order policing operations, and
(g) Is responsible for obtaining or reviewing mutual aid agreements with partner agencies,
especially the LASD, ahead of time outlining the concepts of operation, use of force policies,
approvals required, less lethal tools/munitions to be used and use of force reporting.
Funding
Budget for this position and support staff. This position will in fact minimize liability and save
costs to the Department and the City by helping to reduce lawsuits and judgement awards that
will occur if nothing is done.
Responsibility
City Council, Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of Police

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2

3

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Recommendation
Under the direction of the Strategic Emergency Management Bureau, thoroughly review and
update the Emergency Operations Guide. Include:
(a) Emphasis on the field jail guide, Volume 6 of the Emergency Operations Guide,
(b) Inclusion and emphasis on when to establish a Department area command structure,
(c) Identification of how the Department is to be organized when an area command is
implemented under the directions of an assistant chief,
(d) Evaluation and updating of the establishment of staging and command post locations, mass
arrest instructions, and the need to activate the field jail unit and transportation detail when
mass arrests are planned, and
(e) Implement periodic training on how to run an area command, command posts (including
forward operating platforms) and key positions such as staging.
Rationale
This report identified that the Emergency Operations Guide is outdated in numerous areas and
it was not used during the review period to streamline processes.
Funding
No budgetary impact
Responsibility
Chief of Police
Recommendations
Emphasize the following upon updating the field jail guide:
(a) Training of all detective personnel on field jail duties during mass arrests, and
(b) Inclusion of field jail duties and staffing duties related to mass arrest in command officer
training, and,
(c) Inclusion of Custody Services Division jail personnel in training on how to process arrestees
during mass arrests.
Rationale
This report identified that the field jail guide within the Emergency Operations Guide is
outdated in numerous areas and on several occasions, it was not used during the review
period to streamline processes.
Funding
No budgetary impact
Responsibility
Chief of Police

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Recommendations

4

5

6

67

Recommendation
The Office of the Inspector General must periodically audit the requirements, and Department
compliance with, all settlement agreements.
Rationale
A search of Board of Police Commissioner public documents on settlements involving protests
and/or civil unrest revealed no current settlement agreement audit or inspection reports.
Ongoing audits or inspections of the requirements of Department and City settlements should
have identified some of the deficiencies identified in this report.
Funding
No budgetary impact
Responsibility
Board of Police Commissioners
Recommendation
Conduct a periodic review of the number of buses and vans available to transport arrestees
during a mass arrest situation and the number of personnel certified to drive them. Include:
(a) An assessment that the total available is sufficient,
(b) Plans to increase the transportation fleet if needed, and
(c) Whether the Department Operations Center, Communications Division, shall retain a
current list of all certified drivers.
Rationale
Currently there are few LAPD personnel properly licensed (Class B with appropriate
endorsements) and the Department should identify an appropriate number of drivers needed
for this function.
Funding
Cost to certify and license personnel: unknown budgetary impact until the Department
identifies the number of personnel needed and the cost of licensing. The cost of buses and
vans.
Responsibility
City Council, Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of Police
Recommendation
Work with both the LASD and MTA to include clauses in their Prisoner Transportation and
Release Services Agreement contracts to assist with arrestee transportation during local
emergencies.
Rationale
To prevent arrestee transportation delays and employee relations conflicts between agencies
as noted in the events of 2020.
Funding
Unknown budgetary impact.
Responsibility
City Council, Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of Police

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Recommendations

7

8

9

68

Recommendation
Undertake an extensive study of all less lethal munitions, including the 40 mm round, to
examine performance, consistent velocity, potential for ricochets, influence of the plastic
wrapping or banding around the sponge projectile and other aspects of the round. Included in
that study should be any potential new technology for use in public order policing operations.
Rationale
While manufacturers conduct research on the various less lethal rounds, the LAPD should
conduct its own studies and look for emerging technologies.
Funding
Minor budgetary impact-cost of munitions.
Responsibility
Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of Police
Recommendation
Design and implement an inventory system to audit and track the amount of less lethal
munitions, including the 37mm and 40mm rounds, expended during any public order policing
incidents.
Rationale
The Department was unable to provide an accurate accounting of these munitions used during
the 2020 protests.
Funding
No budgetary impact.
Responsibility
Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of Police
Recommendation
Update the use of force tactical directives to include more detailed instruction regarding the
use of less lethal tools in crowds and the approval level required for the deployment of each
the less lethal tools.
Rationale
Currently there is no use of force tactical directive relative to the 37mm less lethal tool. The
information contained in the use of force tactical directive for the 40mm system does not
contain adequate instruction on the use of the round in crowd control situations.
Funding
No budgetary impact.
Responsibility
Chief of Police

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10

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Recommendation
Establish protocols that:
(a) Only trained (certified) members of Metropolitan Division or officers who receive
consistent and periodic instruction and certification in the 40mm system should be allowed to
deploy the 40mm during crowd control situations,
(b) Retain the use of the 40mm system for all other officers during patrol duties and ensure
annual retraining of weapon manipulations during shotgun qualification, and
(c) Mandate the use of body worn video (when feasible) to record problem behavior of
individuals in the crowd when officers decide to use the target specific 40mm in a crowd
control situation.
Rationale
The Department certified nearly 8,000 officers to deploy the 40mm munitions in patrol
functions and deployment of that system in crowd control situations. Limiting the deployment
of the 40mm munitions during crowd control situations to officers with enhanced and ongoing training may enhance effectiveness and reduced unintended strikes during use under
such conditions. Manipulations of the 40mm system could easily be retrained/tested during
the annual shotgun qualification cycle after the shotgun qualification with minimal impact to
deployment concerns. This would guarantee that the perishable skill involving weapon
manipulation is addressed annually.
Funding
No budgetary impact.
Responsibility
Chief of Police

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Recommendations

11

70

Recommendation
Create an LAPD two-year training plan that is aligned with the State training cycle that is
reviewed and updated every year to include:
(a) All required training mandates by various entities including the State, City, Police
Commission,
(b) All litigation settlement items, or previous applicable reports,
(c) The topics and methods for training and delivery,
(d) Who is mandated to attend,
(e) Frequency, number of hours required,
(f) A cost analysis of time, dollar amount, and what training is not going to be able to occur,
(g) Identification of where the training should be integrated to replicate real life experiences,
and,
(h) Formal plan approval by the Chief of Police with any modifications documented.
Rationale
It was evident that many executive-level officers throughout the Department’s history,
including the Board of Police Commissioners, and the City placed numerous well-intentioned
training requirements on the Department with little understanding of the overall impact on
deployment, training mandates, costs, and/or the organization. Likewise, these same executive
officers frequently cut training without understanding the overall impact on the Department
and training mandates put in place by litigation, legal mandates, etc. This will allow those
recommending or mandating additional training to address the impact the proposed training
would have on Departmental operations and the current training plan, and the cost to the
Department. This process would document when and why training modifications occurred and
ensure lessons learned from the past and training advances such as those of the Consent
Decree are not lost.
Funding
No budgetary impact.
Responsibility
Chief of Police

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Recommendations

12

13

71

Recommendation
Train command staff annually on the incident command system, including:
(a) Exercising all-hazards events (fires, earthquakes, pandemics, demonstrations, etc.) through
hands-on, scenario-based training, and
(b) Activating the incident management teams concept as outlined in the Emergency
Operations Guide as part of the training plan.
Rationale
This will reinforce in all command officers what their designations mean in the incident
command system configurations and provide for certainty and uniformity in the chain of
command from the incident commander and improve situational awareness to direct field
operations.
Funding
No budgetary impact at this time.
This training could be included in the current rotation of quarterly command staff training
session.
Responsibility
Chief of Police
Recommendation
Staff the public information officer position in the incident command system during any major
event(s). This position should be responsible to coordinate periodic updates from the
Department for the media and the public to keep them informed on the status of the event(s).
The personnel assigned should also coordinate with other City leaders to ensure there is a
coordinated and consistent message being provided throughout the duration of the event(s).
Rationale
The importance of keeping the media and the public informed on the status of any event is
critical to ensure that there is transparency, rumors are managed, misinformation can be
corrected, and/or information clarified. The lack of providing these periodic updates can
provide people with agendas that do not serve the public, to fill the gap with information that
is inaccurate and at times can endanger lives. The need to include the City leadership in this
process is also critical so that there are no mixed messages which can lead to the public
questioning the credibility of the information being provided.
Funding
No budgetary impact at this time.
Responsibility
Chief of Police

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14

15

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Recommendation
Conduct a thorough review of, and update on, the configuration and deployment of a mobile
field force to include consideration of:
(a) The number of officers and supervisors deployed in a mobile field force,
(b) The configuration of the preplanned mobile field force,
(c) Examination of the form of transportation of the mobile field force (police car vs vans, etc.),
and
(d) Assessment of whether preplanned mobile field configurations should include resources
such as shadow seams.
The review should use Department expertise and subject matter experts.
Rationale
Under the current mobile field force configuration, a driver must remain with each police car,
which only carries four officers. This change could allow for less vehicles and less personnel
needed to be assigned to vehicle protection upon arrival.
Funding
No budgetary impact at this time.
Responsibility
Chief of Police
Recommendation
Conduct a thorough review of mobile field force training:
(a) Adjust accordingly to any updated, contemporary tactics for crowd control as identified
during the mobile field force review by the Department experts as stated in recommendation
No.1, and any updated California State guidelines,
(b) Training Bureau should conduct this review in coordination with personnel with
appropriate expertise. If the Department adopts the Strategic Emergency Manager
recommendation, Training Bureau and the Director of Police Training and Education should
coordinate the update with this executive-level officer, and,
(c) Require that hands on mobile field force training be conducted every two years for
lieutenants and below and annually for command officers.
Rationale
Mobile field force skills are perishable and need to be trained on a consistent basis to ensure
competency. Currently no Department representative is specifically designated to reach out to
other agencies, experts or scholars for best practices to learn what tactics are being used by
protestors around the nation or the world. A consensus of the people interviewed for this
review stated that many of the tactics used by protestors during this event had not been seen
before by the LAPD.
Funding
No budgetary impact.
Responsibility
Chief of Police

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Recommendations

16

17

18

73

Recommendation
Establish Department-wide, consistent shadow team protocols and training to manage the risk
that shadow teams endure, including establishing a clear line of communication so information
is received and acted upon rapidly by the incident commander to enable quick arrests when
necessary or to potentially retrieve the shadow team officers if needed.
Rationale
Shadow teams are for the safety of the crowd and the officers facilitating crowd movement.
Well-coordinated teams with clear missions can coordinate the quick removal of individuals
committing crimes and/or prevent a potential “blue on blue” situation in which undercover
police officers may not be recognized by uniformed personnel.
Funding
No budgetary impact.
Responsibility
Chief of Police
Recommendation
Explore the possibility of adding public order policing scenarios to the Department’s force-onforce training (training simulators/systems) library. Include scenario training for command
staff, supervisors and officers.
Rationale
The Department does not currently use public order policing scenarios in its force-on-force
training simulators/systems. Force option simulation training will enhance decision making and
competency in using the less lethal tools.
Funding
Unknown cost of new force options simulator or other technology.
Responsibility
Chief of Police
Recommendation
Review and assess the current mobilization period start times to determine if an additional
start of watch time would be appropriate to prevent the fatigue that occurred during this
event. Develop several unusual occurrence deployment schemes to fit a variety of
occurrences (A/B, A/B/C etc.) to provide for safety and flexibility. A possibility would be to add
a 10:00am start time for personnel who would most likely be assigned to missions that would
go end of watch after 6:00pm.
Rationale
The Department currently uses two start of watch times, 6:00am-6:00pm, for most all
personnel. During these events it was common for personnel who began watch at 6:00am to
be assigned to missions that caused them to work 18 or 20-hour shifts, severely limiting the
time they had to rest and recover. This can cause levels of fatigue that can lead to flawed
decision making.
Funding
This recommendation may save funds as overtime should be reduced.
Responsibility
Chief of Police

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19

20

21

74

Recommendation
Establish a more robust Department basic first aid and EMT program.
(a) Develop a consistent reporting process to document all instances of rendering general first
aid using the first aid kits provided to all officers,
(b) Develop a consistent reporting process to document all incidents when a trained EMT
renders aid,
(c) Support the EMT program in terms of the cost of the equipment and on-duty time needed
to retain State certification, and
(d) Consider providing a bonus pay incentive for those employees who are EMT certified.
Rationale
The Department currently does not document these instances in a consistent manner.
Establishing a more formal and expanded EMT program to include patrol officers will provide
potentially lifesaving care.
Funding
Cost of a bonus based on the number of employees EMT certified, the cost of replacing used
equipment and keeping equipment updated.
Responsibility
City Council, Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of Police
Recommendations
Purchase software that can be used to analyze open-source internet and social media content
to provide field operations with vetted and useable intelligence/information and add
appropriate staffing.
Rationale
To provide real-time analysis of information.
Funding
Council to consider approving funding or Department could potentially use federal Urban
Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant funds.
Responsibility
City Council, Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of Police
Recommendation
Explore Department personnel tracking technology to be used for large scale events to be able
to track personnel during staging and deployment, skill sets, certification and timekeeping for
better planning and deployment.
Rationale
The current process is to conduct Department personnel check-in and check-out using
pencil/paper and can take hours to accomplish. Technology could improve efficiencies,
effectiveness, minimize errors, improve personnel safety, and assist with administration of
mutual aid and assistance reimbursement agreements.
Funding
Council to approve funding. Budgetary impact is the cost of technology.
Responsibility
Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of Police

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22

Recommendations
Establish a five-year succession plan.
Rationale
The LAPD has been experiencing an unusually large number of retirements in all ranks over the
past ten years taking with them leadership experience and expertise and leaving a gap in
experience. This was identified as a problem throughout this report and if the Department
does not have the resources to develop a formal succession plan, an outside consultant may
be of assistance.
Funding
No budgetary impact unless an outside consultant is determined to be useful.

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VIII. Appendix
Appendix 1: Review Team Members and Other Contributors
Review Team Members
Gerald Chaleff
Mr. Chaleff joined LAPD in 2003 under Chief William J. Bratton as the civilian Commanding Officer of the
Consent Decree Bureau, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the reform provisions of the
2001 Consent Decree which the Department and the City of Los Angeles entered into with the United
States Department of Justice. In 2009, Mr. Chaleff became the Special Assistant for Constitutional
Policing to Chief Charlie Beck. During his tenure with the Department, Mr. Chaleff also oversaw the
operations of the Department Risk Manager, as well as the Civil Rights Integrity, Planning and Research,
Legal Affairs, Internal Audits, and Fiscal Operations Divisions.
Before joining LAPD, Mr. Chaleff was appointed to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners,
serving as President from 1999 to 2001. During this time he was selected by the City to be part of the
team negotiating with the United States Department of Justice the terms of the 2001 Consent Decree.
He is also a former President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and served as a Deputy General
Counsel to the Webster Commission.
After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA and his law degree from Harvard Law School,
Mr. Chaleff worked for the office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney and the office of the Los
Angeles County Public Defender. He then entered private practice, first at his own law firm, and later as
a partner at a large, multinational firm. He is a nationally recognized expert in criminal defense, with
extensive experience in both state and federal courts and is a member of the prestigious American
College of Trial Lawyers.
Mr. Chaleff has served as a consultant on constitutional policing issues to the New York Police
Department and assisted the City of New Orleans in their negotiations with the Department of Justice,
which resulted in a Consent Decree. Mr. Chaleff is presently a member of the National Research
Advisory Board of the Data Collaborative for Justice, at John Jay College and the National Advisory
Committee for the Early Intervention System of the University of Chicago Crime lab. He recently assisted
in the evaluation of the Community Safety Partnership by UCLA as a member of the Advisory
Committee. He has previously served as a member of the Board of Advisory of the Luskin School of
Public Affairs, at UCLA.
Gloria Grube
Gloria Grube is a retired LAPD Police Administrator III, a Deputy Chief equivalent and the highest ranking
civilian position in the Police Department. She spent the last five of her 35 years with the LAPD as the
Bureau Chief of the Administrative Services Bureau, a command of 1600 employees. She has overseen
or managed most of LAPD's support entities including Personnel, Recruitment, Communications
(dispatch center), Records and Identification, Information and Technology, Motor Transport (fleet
services), Facilities Management, Evidence and Property Management, and Custody Services Divisions.

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She also had oversight over the military liaison unit and was responsible for Department-wide personnel
deployment.
Stephen R. Jacobs
Stephen Jacobs is a retired LAPD Deputy Chief who spent the last five years of his career as the Chief of
Staff for Chief of Police Charlie Beck. As the prior Commanding Officer of Metropolitan Division and one
of the original incident management team leaders he has extensive experience in crowd management,
crowd control and the incident command system.
Sandy Jo MacArthur
Sandy Jo MacArthur is a law enforcement consultant (e.g., Chicago, Detroit, New York, Cincinnati) an
associate professor at Pepperdine University, and a retired LAPD Assistant Chief. She has extensive
experience in policing training, LAPD consent decree and settlement agreements and implementation,
use of force, and employee wellness. In 2007 she was the Commanding Officer of Incident Management
and Training Bureau and has experience in designing and implementing public order policing training
programs. Sandy Jo has her Masters Degree in Negotiations and Conflict Management and for over ten
years was a member of the City of Los Angeles City Attorney’s Officer Community Dispute Resolution
program. She currently a member of the University of Chicago Crime Lab National Advisory Committee
on Police Early Intervention Systems and a member of an Advisory Committee for the UCLA evaluation
of the Community Safety Partnership program.
Rosa Moreno
Rosa Moreno is a retired LAPD Captain III who spent 32 years with the LAPD. She has more than nine
years of patrol experience, more than ten years of detective experience and over 12 years of
administrative experience. At the time of her retirement, she was the Commanding Officer of Legal
Affairs Division. She was an incident management team member, has experience with the Department
Operations Center and extensive knowledge of the Department consent decrees, settlements, and
lawsuits, including those that pertain to crowd control, mass arrest, and field jail procedures.
Rick Webb
Rick Webb is a retired LAPD Commander with over 35 years of service. He currently provides
consultation and expert testimony for law enforcement firms and police agencies in police practices,
police management, use of force, police tactics, internal discipline and biased policing. While with the
LAPD he spearheaded key projects including collaborating with various law enforcement agencies across
the country to design new police strategies and tactics to manage large scale active shooter incidents
and acts of terrorism.

Appreciation for professionalism in representing their constituents and clients.
Rachel Brashier, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Councilmember Harris-Dawson, Council District 8
Muna Busaliah, Law Firm of Stone Busailah, LLP, Command Officer’s Association

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Krista Kline, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Councilmember Bonin, Council District 11
The Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors, representing LAPD Officers to Lieutenants
Appreciation to the professionals who were interviewed and contributed to this report.
All those who agreed to be interviewed and made this report possible.
Special thanks to Dr. Ian Mitroff, PhD, Professor Emeritus from the Marshall School of Business and the
Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California. He is currently a Senior
Research Affiliate in the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management at the University of California,
Berkeley
Bret Burton, Sergeant Portland Police Department
Craig Dobson, Commander Portland Police Department
Phil Fontanetta, Retired Commander LAPD
Robert Green, Retired Deputy Chief LAPD
Leland Klauzer, Sergeant Portland Police Department
Jeffery McDaniel, Sergeant Portland Police Department
Mark Pazin, Chief of California Office of Emergency Services
Eric Rose, LAPD Reserve Officer and Partner and Crisis/Media Strategist with Englander, Knabe & Allen

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Appendix 2: Methodology and Limitations
Methodology: The Review Team reviewed documents, policies, directives and tactics of the LAPD and
conducted in-depth interviews with over 100 members of the LAPD (more than 50 of whom were
members of the leadership team), and City and plaintiff attorneys.
Although most after action reports rely on open discussion participation with those involved in the
incident, this report is a hybrid. While the Review Team was not given access to a true after action
review meeting with key individuals involved in the protests and civil unrest, the Chief of Police provided
an opportunity to obtain voluntary interviews from command staff to officers on the ground. The team
was able to obtain over 50 interviews of sworn and civilian command officers. In addition, the team was
able to interview over 30 sworn members of the rank of lieutenant and below and reviewed the
responses to the LAPPL membership survey regarding the events of May and June 2020, from over 3,000
sworn members. After conducting a thorough review and analysis, recommendations for improvement
were identified. A full list of recommendations is found in Section VIII of this report.
City Council members provided the Review Team with a list of community members and advocates who
participated in the various protests. The Review Team obtained interviews from ten individuals who
were able to provide invaluable information regarding their perspective of the Los Angeles events during
May and June of 2020.
Limitations: It is not possible to review and evaluate every incident and interaction between members
of the public and the police that occurred during the review period. There are logical, logistical, and legal
limitations in the Review Team’s ability to evaluate individual actions. Those limitations include:
Each incident and parts of an incident is unique. Police use of force must be evaluated based on the
facts and circumstances facing the officer at the time of the force incident. To accurately assess
reasonableness, the articulation expressed by the officer and a thorough examination of the facts and
evidence surrounding the use of force is required for each incident. Given the thousands of interactions
between officers and members of the public during May-June 2020, it was not feasible to examine each
incident.
According to LAPD policy, reporting of force used by officers in crowd control situations, such as baton
strikes or pushes and deployment of less lethal munitions, is summarized on incident command system
forms. This is unlike use of force incidents occurring during normal policing operations where there is an
on-scene supervisory investigation, canvassing for witnesses and thorough documentation of all aspects
of the incident. Reporting force procedures used in crowd control incidents must consider the fact that
the scenes are often dynamic and there may be multiple instances of force used by officers in often
unsafe and rapidly unfolding conditions. For these reasons, such uses of force are reported after the
incident has calmed or subsided.
In crowd control situations, police supervisors are required to document as much information as they
can (the name of the officer(s) using force, the type of force tool used, and the approximate time).
Usually, the identification of the subject of the use of force is not known or available and the reporting is

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done after the incident has concluded or at the end of the shift. Generally, given the numbers of
incidents, the chaotic and on-going nature of crowd control situations, and the delay in reporting, the
information documented is typically very general in nature.
All allegations of serious misconduct, including allegations of excessive force are investigated by Internal
Affairs Group, Professional Standards Bureau. Officers under investigation, and witness officers, have
certain rights afforded to them by the Peace Officers Bill of Rights, California Government Code Section
3300-3311. The Bill of Rights guides the way the investigation is conducted. The Review Team does not
have the authority to investigate allegations of misconduct, compel officers to cooperate with an
investigation, interview witnesses, canvass for evidence, evaluate the report for consideration of
criminal referral, or otherwise make recommendations about individual cases. Further, any effort by the
Review Team to investigate or question officers about an occurrence under investigation by the
Department could unreasonably interfere with an on-going Department investigation.

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Appendix 3: 1992 After-Action Report Findings
Table of 1992 LAPD After Action Report Findings
After the video recording of an LAPD use of force incident against a Black man (Rodney King) that was
viewed by most of the nation, four Los Angeles police offices were tried for excessive force and
acquitted. The trial of the officers was broadcast live on television for several weeks. All four officers
were acquitted. Soon after the acquittal, violence erupted. Over the following six days, 63 people
were killed. The National Guard and other mutual aid law enforcement agencies were deployed into
the City. The property damage from arson and looting was estimated at over $1 billion. Below are
findings from the LAPD After Action Report.
Problems with call up rosters: Individual commands were directed to revitalize mobilization rosters,
update employee “call-up” and notification plans, develop a ratio of officers to available police
vehicles for transportation to areas impacted by civil unrest, and develop platoon size teams to
respond to looters.
Preparedness: Only a small number of staff officers within the Department believed there was a
possibility of violence, while the majority did not and did not follow through on making plans for
potential unrest.
Preparedness/Training: Although commands were advised to train line personnel in civil disorder
tactics, there was no evidence that any training occurred.
Planning: A high-level staff officer conducted a meeting with other Department staff and command
personnel a month prior to the release of the jury’s decision and requested that plans be developed
for the possibility of civil unrest in the event that the officers were acquitted of charges. However,
planning did not begin until 37 days into the trial.
Planning: There was no centralized Department-wide effort to develop plans should there be unrest.
Instead, commands were left to devise their own plans, resulting in 18 separate Area plans, four
Traffic Division plans, and one Metropolitan Division plan to respond to possible civil unrest.
Area Command: There was no centralized direction to conduct outreach to community leadership
which may have afforded the Department valuable intelligence that an acquittal most likely would
spark community outcry and possible violence.
Preparedness: The LAPD experienced organizational complacency, as few problems with civil unrest
had occurred within the City since the 1965 Watts Riots.
Incident Command System: Command post and staging discipline and deployment of resources was
poorly executed.
Communication: Communications and interoperability difficulties.
Intelligence: Lack of intelligence gathering capabilities.
Command and Control: Command and control deficiencies noted throughout the report.
Planning and Preparedness: Department incident action plans for pre-planned events, emergency
action plans for unplanned events, and after-action reports created by the LAPD did not include
specific areas in planning, command and control, and accurate and timely information.32

32

July 8, 1992, Los Angeles Police Department After-Action Report 1992 April/May Riot.

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Appendix 4: 2001 Consent Decree Details

Federal Department of Justice Civil Rights Consent Decree
June 2001 Agreement
The Consent Decree was intended to promote police integrity within the Department and prevent
conduct that deprives individuals of their rights, privileges, or immunities protected by the
Constitution of the United States. The Consent Decree placed emphasis on the following nine areas.
1. Management and supervisory measures to promote civil rights integrity
2. Critical incident procedures, documentation, investigation and review
3. Management of gang units
4. Management of confidential informants
5. Program development for response to persons with mental illness
6. Training
7. Integrity audits
8. Operations of the Police Commission and Inspector General
9. Community outreach and public information
In May 2013, U.S. District Judge Gary Feess formally lifted the binding agreement the U.S. Department
of Justice imposed on the Department. Judge Feess said that the Department had sufficiently complied
with reforming itself and no longer required the oversight of a monitor.

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Appendix 5: 2000 DNC National Lawyers Guild Settlement Information

National Lawyers Guild V. City of Los Angeles
June 2005 Settlement
Helicopters

Must operate at reasonable altitudes and not be used with the intent to deny
response to emergency.
Marches
Crowds can use the public sidewalk adjacent to the street but may not disrupt
businesses.
Motorcycles/Bicycles Not allowed to strike lawfully assembling demonstrators as a crowd control
strategy.
Use of Less Lethal
May be deployed on aggressive and/or combative suspects in crowd control
Tools
situations on subjects armed with weapons other than firearms, and on
subjects who are destroying property. Not allowed to be used on lawfully
dispersing individuals or crowds, individuals or crowds who are retreating.
Department must publish a notice that require stinger weapons to be used
ONLY with the approval of a staff officer and only in riotous situations.
Public Assemblies
Prior to declaring an assembly unlawful, Department personnel shall refer to
the LAPD guidelines for crowd management and control, Volume 5 of the
Emergency Operations Guide. All incident commanders shall be trained in
crowd management strategies and tactics. Before declaring an unlawful
assembly, the incident commander should evaluate the feasibility of isolating
and arresting those responsible for the unlawful conduct.

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Appendix 6: 2007 MacArthur Park Settlement
Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network V. City of Los Angeles
June 2009 Settlement
May Day 2007
Basic Principles
All persons have a right to demonstrate/protest.
Government may impose reasonable and narrowly tailored restrictions on the
demonstrations. Restrictions must be justified based on public safety and public
health.
Helicopters
Must fly at reasonable altitudes and used for emergencies.
Marches

Motorcycles/Bicycles/
Motor Vehicles
Horses
Less Lethal Weapons

Batons

Assemblies

Declaration of
Unlawful Assembly

Crowd management
Training

Policy

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Demonstrators/protestors can use sidewalks. LAPD will consider the practicality of
facilitating demonstrations that may temporarily block traffic and include these
procedures in the manual.
Such vehicles may be used for observation and traffic control. They may not be used to
strike demonstrators as a method or strategy to control or disperse crowds.
Ensure that during crowd control training the curriculum addresses the subject of the
impact of the use of horses on crowd behavior.
Less lethal weapons may be deployed on aggressive or combative subjects in crowd
control situation, against a physical threat or aggressive or combative behavior and to
prevent the destruction of property. Less lethal weapons may not be used on lawfully
dispersing or retreating persons or crowds. When feasible, notice should be given
before deploying less lethal in a crowd control incident or for dispersal. Where
feasible, the warning should be given in language(s) spoken by participants.
If LAPD resumes the use of Stinger rounds, LAPD must publish a notice that Stinger
round use requires the approval of a staff officer and only in riotous situations.
Batons are not to be used against dispersing individuals or crowds who are unable to
move or pose no imminent threat. Batons can be used in a pushing motion against
individuals who intentionally refuse to move or when behavior is threatening or
violent. Batons may be used as an impact weapon in accordance with LAPD policy.
The incident commander and supervisors shall make every effort to ensure the police
missions are created and communicated with the highest regard for dignity and
liberty. Prior to declaring an assembly unlawful, the Department shall refer to Volume
5 of the Emergency Operations Guide and the incident commander shall evaluate the
feasibility of isolating the problem individuals.
Announce the unlawful assembly under the requirements of CA Penal Code 409,
follow procedures in Volume 5 of the Emergency Operations Guide and use an
amplified loudspeaker system to warn. If feasible, send personnel to the far side of the
crowd to record the unlawful assembly order, and the order shall be made repeatedly
and reasonably calculated to be heard by the entire crowd in English and other
languages. The unlawful assembly order shall include: an objectively reasonable period
of time to disperse and provide a safe route(s) to disperse and a warning that police
action may include the use of less lethal munitions.
Training shall include the understanding of the impact that a Department show of
force has on crowd behavior. Metropolitan Division shall undergo training annually.
Every officer above the rank of Sergeant I shall undergo training at a minimum interval
of two years on crowd control and use of fore policy developed as the result of this
settlement. Training may be live or by e-module or both.
All policies shall be included in the Emergency Operations Guide by July 1, 2009.
(Plaintiffs were given opportunity to provide input prior to the approval.)

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Appendix 7: 2011 Occupy Los Angeles
Occupy of Los Angeles
2011 Settlement
1

Demonstrators shall not be “kettled” by officers when they are attempting to comply with a
dispersal order.

2

Arrestees shall not be placed on transportation buses with tight handcuffs for an extended
period of time.

3

Arrestees shall not be denied access to bathroom facilities or water while held in police custody.

4

Arrestees shall be released on their own recognizance if charged only with a misdemeanor,
pursuant to California Penal Code 853.6

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Appendix 8: 2014 Ferguson
Ferguson Demonstration
2014
Settlement

1

Demonstrators shall be given a dispersal order prior to arrest and given the opportunity to
leave.
Demonstrators shall not be “kettled” after being given a dispersal order.

2
Arrestees shall not be zip-tied for extended periods of time.

3
Arrestees shall not be incarcerated for extended periods of time.

4
5

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Arrestees shall not be denied “OR” (released on their own recognizance) for misdemeanor
charges pursuant to California Penal Code 853.5pc

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Appendix 9: Key Terms
Categorical Use of Force: LAPD Manual Section 3/795 defines categorical uses of force (CUOF) as:
• An incident involving the use of deadly force (e.g., discharge of a firearm) by a Department employee;
• All uses of an upper body control hold by a Department employee, including the use of a modified carotid,
full carotid or locked carotid hold;
• All deaths while the arrestee or detainee is in the custodial care of the Department (also known as an InCustody Death or ICD);
•
A use of force incident resulting in death;
• A use of force incident resulting in an injury requiring hospitalization, commonly referred to as a law
enforcement related injury or LERI;
• All intentional head strikes with an impact weapon or device (e.g., baton, flashlight, etc.) and all
unintentional (inadvertent or accidental) head strikes that results in serious bodily injury, hospitalization
or death;
Note: Serious bodily injury, as defined in California Penal Code Section 243(f)(4), includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
o Loss of consciousness;
o Concussion;
o Bone fracture;
o Protracted loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ;
o A wound requiring extensive suturing; and,
o Serious disfigurement.
(All other unintentional head strikes shall be investigated as Level I Non-Categorical Use of Force
incidents;)
• Officer-involved animal shootings and non-tactical unintentional discharges;
• An incident in which a member of the public has contact with a Department canine and
hospitalization is required. Under Department policy, a canine contact is not a use of force but has
been included in this category to satisfy the provisions of the Consent Decree; and,
• Incidents where the Department has agreed to conduct similar critical incident investigations for a
non-Department entity, such as a Los Angeles Fire Department Arson Unit.33
Civil Disturbance: A gathering that constitutes a breach of the peace or any assembly of persons where there is a
threat of collective violence, destruction of property, or other unlawful acts. Such a gathering may also be referred
to as a riot or unlawful assembly.34
Crowd Control: Techniques used to address civil disturbances, to include a show of force, crowd containment,
disperse equipment and tactics, and preparation for multiple arrests. 35 LAPD doctrine states that the Mission and
Objectives of crowd control during a civil disorder is to restore conditions to normal as rapidly and efficiently as
possible.36
Crowd Management: Techniques used to manage lawful assemblies before, during, and after the event for the
purpose of maintaining lawful status though event planning, pre-event contact with event organizers, issuance of
permits where applicable, information gathering, personnel training and other means. 37 LAPD doctrine states that

33

Manual of the Los Angeles Police Department, Vol 3/795.
Crowd Management (Alexandria, Va: International Association of Chiefs of Police, April 2019),
https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/Crowd%20Management%20FULL%20-%2008062020.pdf.
35 Crowd Management
36 Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide (Los Angeles Police Department, n.d.), vol. 2 page 16.
37 Crowd Management.
34

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the Mission and Objectives of crowd management situation is to “preserve public order while at the same time
protecting the constitutional rights of the individuals involved.38
Command and Control: The use of active leadership to direct others while using available resources to coordinate
a response, accomplish tasks and minimize risk. Command uses active leadership to establish order, provide
stability and structure, set objectives, and create conditions under which the function of control can be achieved
with minimal risk. Control implements the plan of action while continuously assessing the situation, making
necessary adjustments, managing resources, managing the scope of the incident (containment), and evaluating
whether existing Department protocols apply to the incident.39
Demonstration: A lawful assembly of persons organized primarily to engage in free speech activity. These may be
scheduled events that allow for law enforcement planning. They include, but are not limited to, marches, protests,
and other assemblies intended to attract attention. Lawful demonstrations can devolve into civil disturbances that
necessitate enforcement action.40
Department Operations Center: The Department Operations Center (DOC) is part of Communications Division and
serves as the Department command post during serious or major unusual occurrences. It is staffed to coordinate
and provide police services, personnel, equipment, and supplies to incidents. It is located in the City’s Emergency
Operations Center and is capable of communicating with all City Departments and selected outside agencies.41
Emergency Operations Center: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is the facility established by the City to
coordinate the City’s overall response and support to an emergency. Representatives from various City
Departments and agencies, including the Police Department, staff the EOC.
Review Period: The time frame from May 27 through June 7, 2020.
Failure to Disperse: California Penal Code Section 409 states: Every person remaining present at the place of any
riot, rout, or unlawful assembly, after the same has been lawfully warned to disperse, except public officers and
persons assisting them in attempting to disperse the same, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 42
Impact Projectiles: Projectiles designed and intended to deliver non-penetrating impact energy from safer range.
These may include direct fire or non-direct skip-fired rounds. The latter are projectiles that are discharged toward
the ground in front of a target, theoretically delivering the energy to the subject following contact with the
ground.43
Mobilization: The principal Department plan to marshal personnel resources for control of a major unusual
occurrence. The preliminary stage of a mobilization is a tactical alert. A mobilization includes the immediate
implementation of 12-hour A and B watches, the deferment of days off, and the recalling of off-duty officers.
Objective Reasonableness: Police use of force is judged pursuant to a “reasonable objective standard” per the
United States Supreme Court Decision known as Graham v. Connor. “Graham” specifically states, and is repeated,
in part, in the Los Angeles Police Department use of force policy: “The reasonableness of a particular use of force
must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of
hindsight. The calculus of reasonableness must embody the allowance for the fact that police officers are often
forced to make split-second judgements – in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving – about
the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation. The test of reasonableness is not capable of precise

38

Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide, vol. 2, page 16.
TRAINING BULLETIN: COMMAND AND CONTROL (Los Angeles Police Department, July 2018), 1, http://lapd-lapd-lapdassets.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/tac-dir11-crowd-mgmt.pdf.
40 Crowd Management.
41 LAPD Media Relations Guide
42 California Penal Code Section 409.5 - California Attorney Resources - California Laws, accessed October 1, 2020,
https://law.onecle.com/california/penal/407.html.
43Crowd Management
39

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definition or mechanical application. The force must be reasonable under the circumstances known to the officer
at the time the force was used.”44
Public Order Policing: A term that is widely used in Canada and Europe. For purposes of this report, public order
policing is crowd control AND crowd management.
Riot: California Penal Code Section 404 defines a riot as: Any use of force or violence, disturbing the public peace,
or any threat to use force or violence, if accompanied by immediate power of execution, by two or more persons
acting together, and without authority of law, is a riot. (Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 132, Sec. 1. Effective January
1, 1996.)45
Staging Area: A location approved by the incident commander and used for the collection, storage, maintenance,
disbursement, and accounting of personnel, vehicles, supplies, and equipment used or available. The staging area
may also be used for the temporary storage of booked property and impounded vehicles.
Unlawful Assembly: California Penal Code Section 407 defines an unlawful assembly as: Whenever two or more
persons assemble together to do an unlawful act, or do a lawful act in a violent, boisterous, or tumultuous manner,
such assembly is an unlawful assembly.46
Non-Categorical Use of Force: LAPD Manual Section 4/245.02 defines Non-Categorial Use of Force (NCUOF) as: an
incident in which any on-duty or off-duty Department employee whose occupation as a Department employee is a
factor, uses physical force or a control device to:
• Compel a person to comply with the employee's direction;
• Defend themselves;
• Defend others;
• Effect an arrest or detention;
• Prevent escape; or,
• Overcome resistance.
The following incidents are not reportable NCUOF incidents:
• Any incident investigated by Force Investigations Division (Department Manual Section 3/794.10);
• The use of a C-grip, firm grip, or joint lock which does not result in an injury or complained of injury to the
subject;
• The use of a joint lock walk-down or body weight to overcome a subject's passive resistance which does
not result in an injury or complained of injury to the subject;
• In a crowd control situation, a use of force report is not required when officer(s) become involved in an
incident where force is used to push, move, or strike individuals who exhibit unlawful or hostile behavior
and who do not respond to verbal directions by the police. This applies only to officers working in
organized squad and platoon sized units directly involved in a crowd control mission. Additionally, should
force be utilized under these circumstances, officers shall notify their immediate supervisor of the use of
force once the tactical situation has been resolved. The supervisor shall report the action on the incident
command system (ICS), Form 214(Activity Log), or as directed by the incident commander. When a
suspect has been taken into custody, the booking number, or Division of Records (DR) number of the
related report shall be cross-referenced on the incident command system form; and,

44

Los Angeles Police Department Use of Force Policy - Revised (Los Angeles Police Department, March 2017).
California Penal Code Section 404 (2016) - California Codes, accessed December 19, 2020,
https://california.public.law/codes/ca_penal_code_section_407.
46 California Penal Code Section 409 (2016) - California Codes, accessed December 19, 2020,
https://california.public.law/codes/ca_penal_code_section_407.
45

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•

47

The discharge, including tactical discharge, of a projectile weapon (e.g., beanbag shotgun, 37mm or 40mm
projectile launcher or compressor air projectile system), electronic control device (Taser), or any chemical
dispenser that does not make contact with an individual or their clothing is not a reportable use of force. 47

Manual of the Los Angeles Police Department, Section 4/245.02.

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Appendix 10: Incident Command System Structures
Single Incident
Incident Comm and er

Public Information
Officer

Liai so n
Officer

Safety
Officer

Reso urces
Unit

Supp ort
Branch

Situation
Unit

Supply
Unit
Medic al
Unit

Faciliti es
Unit

Food
Unit

Ground
Support
Unit

Task Force
Single Resource

Multiple Incidents
Unified Area Commanders
(Fire/Law/Public Works)
Public Information Office~

Staging Area/Mobilization
Center Manager·

Liaison Off.cer•
Safety Officer•

Assistant Area
Commander, Planning

Assistant Area
Commander Logistk:s

Finance/Administration

Alea Command

Technical Specialis~

Aviation Coordinator•
•optional positions

Resource Unit
Situation Unit

IC Incident #1

IC Incident #2

IC Incident #3

Description of incident command system positions:
Area Command: In some instances, there are several incidents occurring simultaneously in the same
general area and often of the same general kind (e.g., multiple structure fires, multiple wildland fires,
collapsed buildings, medical events, civil disturbances, planned everts, earthquake, etc.). Typically, these
kinds of incidents compete for the same resources.”48 In these instances, an area command is

48

Managing Large Scale Incidents - Area Command, ICS 420-1.3, 1.

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established. The area command places a hybrid of an incident command system organization over
several incident command system organizations handling similar incidents.
Incident Commander: The person who has overall responsibility and authority over the incident. The
incident commander is supposed to provide a “commander’s intent” with missions and directives to
achieve an overall mission to bring an incident to a conclusion.
Logistics Section: (Logs Chief) provides personnel, equipment and support for the command center.
They handle the coordination of all services involved in the response, from locating rescue equipment to
coordinating the response for volunteer organizations.49
Finance Section: Responsible for accounting for funds used during the response and recovery aspect of
the disaster. They monitor costs related to the incident and provide accounting analyses.50
Operations Section: (Ops Chief) handles tactical operations, coordinates the command objectives, and
organizes and directs all resources to the disaster site.
Planning Section: (Planning Chief) provides the necessary information to the command center to
develop the action plan that will accomplish the objectives. They also collect and evaluate information
as it is made available.
Sectoring (Divisions): In disbursed incidents, (such as wide-spread civil unrest) the geographic territory
around the incident may be divided into smaller areas that are then place under control of subordinate
leadership with resources. This ensures that resources are maintained and not over-deployed to other
areas or taken away from those divisions.
Staging: Key components of comprehensive resource management are logistics and staging. The
logistics chief is supposed to arrange for resources, including personnel to respond to the event.
staging is typically under the command of the operations section chief. At staging, resources, such as
police officers, respond to an area with the intention of being re-deployed to the incident. The “staging
manager” is supposed to receive, organize, track and account for those resources while in the staging
area. In law enforcement, the staging manager is responsible for reconfiguring those resources into predetermined tactical packages such as mobile field force platoons (if not already done) and then dispatch
the resources per the directions of the incident commander.

49
50

Overview: The Incident Command System.
Overview: The Incident Command System.

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Appendix 11: LAPD and FEMA National Concepts of Emergency Management
The LAPD Emergency Operations Guide states the following: “The 21st Century emergency-preparedness
strategies, i.e., all-hazards, special events and criminal terrorist incidents include regional response,
mutual aid, and specialized command expertise. No longer can the planning and command of high
consequence events be limited to rank or position within the organization. Today’s complex events need
to be managed by highly trained specialists. An incident management team is a team of specialists
familiar with all aspects of emergency management. They are experienced leaders, decision makers and
strategic thinkers, self-actualized and willing to develop themselves into a cohesive team focused on
managing large, complex, high consequence incidents. Incident management teams are intended to
address all-hazards incidents, i.e., earthquakes, fires, evacuations and other man-made or natural
disasters; special events including marches, rallies, and public assemblages; crowd management
strategies, mobile field force resources, and sophisticated crime scenes. Furthermore, incident
management teams must be agile enough to integrate into regional, allied agencies.”51
The LAPD emergency management doctrine follows that of the federal government. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies the four phases of disaster management as
preparedness, response, recovery, and
Mitigation Phase Preparedness Phase
mitigation. The preparedness phase is
defined by the Department of
National Emergency
Public Education and
Telecommunication and
Awareness
Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA:
Response Plans
Hazard and Vulnerability
Training and Exercises
Assessment
Emergency Management Preparedness
Early Warning
Improved Infrastructure
Standard Operating
is the continuous cycle of planning,
Procedures
PHASES OF
organizing, training, equipping,
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
exercising, evaluating, and taking
Restoring
Communication and
corrective action in an effort to ensure
Telecommunications
Coordination
Infrastructure
Saving lives
effective coordination during incident
Improving Lives
Recovery and
response.” Preparedness guidelines
rehabilitation of other
services
“promotes a common understanding of
the fundamentals of risk-informed
Recovery Phase Response Phase
planning and decision making to help p
lanners examine a hazard or threat and produce integrated, coordinated, and synchronized plans.”52

Figure 4: Phases of Disaster Management

51

LAPD Emergency Operations Guide.
FEMA: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans: Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 1010, version
2.0 (November 2020).
52

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Appendix 12: LAPD Less Lethal Tools

40mm Launcher, Deploying the 40mm eXact iMpact Sponge Round
The 40mm launcher has a rifled barrel and is equipped with a holographical sighting system that uses a single foam
projectile. According to the manufacturer, the projectile weighs 0.96 oz (27 g) and travels at 325 feet per second
(99mps). The round is 1.6 in (40mm) in diameter and 2.60 inches (6.6 cm) long. The minimum safe range for the eXact
iMpact round is five feet (1.5m) and the maximum effective range is 131 feet (40 m). The round is intended for direct
impact (target specific) application.53 LAPD policy on the 40mm is documented in a directive which states that less-lethal
force options are only permissible when an officer reasonably believes that a suspect or subject is violently resisting
arrest or poses an immediate threat of violence or physical harm. 54 The 40mm shall not be used to target the head, neck,
face, eyes, or spine unless lethal force is authorized. The 40mm launcher may be used in crowd control situations against
a single subject/suspect as a target-specific less-lethal option. 55 Because the 40 mm round is target specific, it cannot be
used to disperse a crowd.

37 mm Launcher, Deploying the 37mm Foam Baton Round
The foam baton round consists of five foam rubber projectiles that are discharged at once. The 37 mm launcher has a
smooth bore barrel with standard iron sights. According to the manufacturer, “…each foam rubber projectile should be
used as a pain compliance round for crowd control. It is most suitable in close to medium ranges of fire, approximately
15 to 30 feet. Beyond 30 feet, the lightweight foam batons may move off target and lose most of their impact energy.
The round is intended to be fired at a target, however, may be skip fired at the direction of the operator. 56 The LAPD
uses the 37mm weapon as a non-target impact weapon. LAPD
policy states in part, “the 37mm foam rubber baton round is a
non-target specific round used for crowd control. With the
approval of the incident commander, the 37 mm foam rubber
baton may be used as a crowd control tool when a dispersal
order has been issued and/or immediate action is necessary, to
stop violence, to ensure public safety, and restore order. 57
Officers deploying the 37 mm launcher are limited to firing a “foam baton” round by skipping the round off of the
ground in front of the intended targets to disperse the crowds.

53

40mm EXact IMpact Sponge Round Spec Shee” (Defense Technologies, December 30, 2020), www.defense-technologies.com.
USE OF FORCE - TACTICS DIRECTIVE: 40mm LESS-LETHAL LAUNCHER, 1.
55 USE OF FORCE - TACTICS DIRECTIVE: 40mm LESS-LETHAL LAUNCHER, 2.
56
37mm Foam Baton Black Powder Round Spec Sheet (Defense Technologies, December 30, 2020), www.defense-technologies.com.
57 USE OF FORCE - TACTICS DIRECTIVE No. 11.1 CROWD MANAGEMENT, INTERVENTION, AND CONTROL (Los Angeles Police Department,
October 2020), 5, http://lapd-lapd-lapd-assets.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/tac-dir11-crowd-mgmt.pdf.
54

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Beanbag Shotgun, Deploying the Beanbag Super-Sock Round
The beanbag shotgun is a Remington 870 shotgun which has been configured with a green slide handle
and stock, rifled barrel, and side saddle ammunition holder. The color green is used to signify that the
shotgun is for the beanbag super-sock round which is a 12-gauge cartridge containing a shot-filled
fabric bag. These rounds are designed to be non-penetrating, and upon striking a target distribute
energy over a broad surface area.” According to LAPD policy the beanbag shotgun may be used in
crowd control situations against a single subject/suspect as a target-specific less-lethal option. 58
The beanbag shotgun is also a standard less lethal tool used during patrol operations. Most officers on
the Department have been certified during the academy in the use of the beanbag shotgun trained for
use in patrol functions.

Hornets Nest Sting Grenades, Deploying .60 Caliber Rubber Balls
The Hornets Nest Sting Grenade (sometimes referred to as a “stinger” round) is a “rubber ball
diversionary device that produces approximately 130 decibels at five feet and emits 1-2 million
candelas. In addition to the light and sound, the Hornets Nest Sting Grenade is designed to disperse
approximately 25, .60 caliber, rubber balls in a 360-degree pattern.”59
The Department did not provide documentation relative to the deployment approval of the Hornets
Nest Sting Grenade Round. However, the Department did provide information that stated that only
the Special Weapons and Tactics Team possesses this less lethal tool and is authorized to deploy it.
There appears to be some confusion in the Department as to who may authorize the deployment of
this less lethal tool in crowd control situations. The Review Team located lesson plans which indicated a
person of the rank of commander or higher may authorize its usage.

58

59

USE OF FORCE - TACTICS DIRECTIVE No. 6.3 BEANBAG SHOTGU” (Los Angeles Police Department, July 2018).
Hornets Nest Sting Grenade, .60 Cal. Rubber Balls, Produce Code ALSG10160 (ALS, December 30, 2020), www.lesslethal.com.

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Appendix 13: History of Training 1992-2020
History of Development and Training60
Mobile Field Force and Crowd Control/Management
Prepared by Training Group July 2007 for the May Day 2007 Examination Report.
Metropolitan Division developed a 16-hour mobile field force course and began delivery to LAPD
personnel after working with the Miami Police Department who were responding to Miami riots
from both 1988 and 1989. The training consisted of conventional crowd control tactics; counter
ambush tactics; lessons learned from 1992; mass arrest procedures; mobile field force concept;
personnel and vehicle assignment; use of force; and exercises in arrest and control, chemical
agents, citizen rescue, gang convoy stops, mobile tactics, patrolling hostile areas, and squad
formations.
6,500 Department personnel and 1,000 personnel from outside agencies (California Highway
Patrol, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department) had completed the course.
The State of California adopted the mobile field force concept and codified it into the 1993
California Police Officer's Standards in Training (POST) Crowd Management and Crowd Control
Guidelines.
The Department introduced a new situational use of force continuum to officers that labeled
categories of individual behaviors as the following: cooperative, no response to commands,
uncooperative, aggressive/combative and life threatening and established it as LAPD policy.
Various force options available to officers to control a situation were listed and correlate to
behavioral categories. At that time, the Department published a Use of Force Handbook and
trained all sworn employees to the use of force continuum. It was immediately added to the
Recruit Basic Course, Supervisor, Watch Commander, and Command Development schools. The
subject of use of force was added to roll call training and provided on a regular basis.
The Department issued a training bulletin entitled “Use of Force-Baton Part II Crowd
Management and Control”. This bulletin became the document cited in training to describe the
amount of force an officer is able to use during crowd control incidents.
The mobile field force and crowd control course was added to the Recruit Basic Academy
Course.
The in-service mobile field force lesson plan was updated during a routine review and at that
time the use of force section in the mobile field force lesson plan included a very brief section on
use of force that stated that " there is no exception to the use of force policy during crowd
control situations other than the reporting requirements." There was no further information
documented in the lesson plan regarding details of the use of force policy or the appropriate
application of baton strikes during crowd control events. There is no ability to now prove if any
additional information was provided in the course regarding use of force, except through
discussions with individuals who were students or instructors of the course. Additionally, the
section of the course that pertained to the use of the baton during crowd control situations
focused totally on technical skills. Therefore, from 2001 forward, the class discussion
surrounding use of force at crowd control situations and the behaviors that allow for the use of
the baton during crowd control incidents is complicated. In 2001, the settlement requirement in
the Crespo v City of Los Angeles lawsuit to train officers on issues involving the media was added

1992

1993
1993

1995

1996

1998
2001

60

LAPD Report to the Board of Police Commissioners: An Examination of May Day 2007, Appendix 2, pgs.87-89.

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to the lesson plans. However, the detail in the lesson plans is insufficient to clarify what
specifically, was taught to the students in these areas.
2003
Use of force was one of several topics covered in the in-service training program that all inservice sworn employees attended. In 2003 Metropolitan Division updated the mobile field
force course and created a four, eight and ten-hour version for delivery on an "as needed"
basis. At the request of the Office of Operations, Metropolitan Division modified the
mobile field force training into a five-hour course that was combined with a five-hour
course on immediate action and rapid deployment for a ten-hour training day. Combining
the two courses was done to help with the growing concern over crime suppression and
deployment demands. At this time, the focus of the training continued to be technical skill
development due to the reduction in time allotted. When the lesson plan was modified to
five hours, the use of force section and the media section were removed from the lesson
plan. Metropolitan Division instructors voiced concerns about the inadequate time now
allotted for the two vastly different subject matters. However, the training proceeded. It
was also incorporated into the Supervisory Development School in 2003. The lesson plan
did not cover three critical areas: use of force, when the use of the baton is warranted
during crowd control situations, and, policy related to the media at crowd management
incidents. The lesson plans clearly focus on techniques rather than policy.
2004
Amid rising concern over crime suppression and field deployment needs, much of the "nonrequired" training was scaled back at the request of Office of Operations. The chief of police
supported the reduction of "non-required" training to allow for a strong focus on Consent
Decree training compliance and crime suppression. Mobile field force training for in-service
officers was not mandated by the Department or State and, therefore, was not a priority and
was among the many training courses that were scaled back.
2005
The Office of Operations director halted the Basic Metro Course and scaled back Metropolitan
Division’s regularly scheduled monthly training from two days per month to one due to a
growing concern over crime suppression. The cut back of training allowed for Metropolitan
Division to be deployed in crime suppression details and assist other commands throughout the
City. The Chief of Police approved the recommendation to scale back training with the
understanding that the subject should be revisited periodically. By 2005, the information
regarding the media policy was added back into the lesson plan during the annual update. Few
officers or supervisors attended training conducted with this lesson plan.
2006
As the Department continued to struggle with more officers retiring than new hires coming into
the Academy, mobile field force training was sidelined altogether. The Metropolitan Division
Basic course remained shut down.
Miscellaneous Training Information MacArthur Park After Action Report 2007
• To date (July 2007) every sworn employee in the Department had received training on the use of force policy
on more than one occasion and had been trained on the techniques and appropriate use of the baton as it
pertains to use of force policy.
• Traditionally, Metropolitan Division platoons were allowed two training days every four weeks - one firearms
and one tactics. Since 2004, Metropolitan Division platoons were generally allowed to conduct one tactics
training day and one firearms training day every four weeks, January through May, and only one training day,
June through December. On several occasions the training day(s) were cancelled as a result of special
assignments and/or pre-planned events. A review of the tactics training day topics generally focused on
dignitary protection duties and other tactics not related to crowd control events.

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History of Training Post 2007 May Day Report
Information based on documents provided by the LAPD for purposes of this report.
January 2021
20072009

Crowd Management/Crowd Control, 10-hours. Department-wide in which areas trained
together with their commanding officers. Groups of over 150 personnel at a time would train
thus being able to replicate actual field scenarios with large numbers of demonstrators. Over
9,500 personnel were trained. Incident command system and crowd management training
occurred in the command staff quarterly training.

20092012

Multiple Assault-Counter Terrorism Action Capabilities, 10-hours. Department-wide in which
large numbers of bureau personnel would train at one time thus being able to replicate actual
field scenarios. All supervisors and command staff were required to attend. Over 9,100
personnel were trained. Incident command system and crowd management training occurred in
the command staff quarterly training each year.

20132014

Some crowd management training was conducted through e-learning for line personnel.
Incident command system and crowd management training occurred in the command staff
quarterly training each year. Additionally, a program was introduced to address concerns over
succession planning for command staff called Conversations in 21st Century Policing. These were
seminars offered to all command level personnel and lieutenants in which panels discussed
topics such as crowd management/facilitations, building community relationships, etc. This
program appears to have been discontinued in 2015 without any documentation as to why.

20152016

Training Bureau planned a Department-wide rollout of mobile field force/crowd management
training. However, when this plan discussed with executive staff the training was tabled per the
Office of Operations assistant chief and the Chief of Police to address deployment needs and the
rising concern over issues surrounding use of force, de-escalation, and crime trends.

20172018

Training Bureau again raised the issue of conducting Department-wide mobile field force/crowd
control training with executive staff. At that time, a decision was made to take the eight-hour
and 10-hour courses approved by the State and the Department and condense it into a fourhour block to accommodate other training needs. Over 9,200 personnel were trained.

20192020

Training Bureau again raised the issue of conducting Department-wide mobile field force/crowd
control training with executive staff with no decision to plan for a Department-wide rollout in
2019. In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic had engulfed the deployment needs of the Department
and created restrictions on training. Therefore, most training was tabled.

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IX. Bibliography
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