The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the primary law enforcement agency of Los Angeles, California, United States, maintains and uses a variety of resources that allow its officers to effectively perform their duties. The LAPD's organization is complex with the department divided into bureaus and offices that oversee functions and manage specialized units. The LAPD's resources include the department's divisions, transportation, communications, and technology.

Police stations The LAPD's deployment of officers has reflected the growth and changes of Los Angeles since the late 19th century. The earliest LAPD police station (or community station or division, originating from the "Patrol Division") was Central Division, located in Downtown Los Angeles on the southeast corner of 1st and Hill. This station opened in 1896 and was the department's first dedicated police station (another had been located at 2nd and Spring, but was possibly a leased or rented storefront type of set-up). The Central Jail was located directly south of it. "Old Central", as it came to be known, housed not only Central Division but also many of the department's headquarters units until its closure in about 1955 in favor of Parker Center and Central Community Police Station.

The city's largest growth period was from approximately the late 19th century through the 1930s when the city grew at a geometric rate. Approximately 100 smaller portions were added to the original five square mile pueblo. Of these, about 90 were formerly unincorporated areas. The remaining ten portions had been their own incorporated cities, and included the cities of Watts, Venice, Hollywood, San Pedro, Wilmington, Barnes, Hyde Park, Eagle Rock, Sawtelle, and Tujunga. When the city consolidated another existing city, its police officers became LAPD officers with corresponding ranks and titles at the LAPD, per the city charter. The LAPD would then create a new division named after the city that had been consolidated and would continue using the former city's police station, usually replacing these facilities with larger renamed police stations within a few years.

The LAPD's area community police stations are organized into area Patrol Divisions, commanded by a Captain I. Patrol Divisions are grouped into four geographic operations bureaus; Operations-Central, South, Valley and West Bureau, commanded by a Deputy Chief. These bureaus are under the Office of Operations, commanded by an Assistant Chief. Offices only report to the Chief of Police and aren't organized into any larger entity. The following is a list of LAPD community stations (patrol divisions), along with their original division numbers:

01 Central Police Station, 251 East 6th Street 90014 02 Rampart Police Station, 1401 West 6th Street 90017 03 Southwest Police Station, 1546 West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard 90062 04 Hollenbeck Police Station, 2111 East 1st St 90033 05 San Pedro Police Station, 2175 John S Gibson Boulevard 90731 06 Hollywood Police Station, 1358 North Wilcox Avenue 90028 07 Wilshire Police Station, 4861 West Venice Boulevard 90019 08 West Los Angeles Police Station, 1663 South Butler Avenue 90025 09 Van Nuys Police Station, 6240 Sylmar Avenue 91401 10 West Valley Substation, 19020 Vanowen Street 91335 11 Northeast Police Station, 3353 North San Fernando Road 90065 12 77th Street Police Station,7600 South Broadway 90003 13 Newton Street Police Station, 3400 South Central Ave 90011 14 Pacific Police Station, 12312 West Culver Boulevard 90066 15 North Hollywood Police Station, 11640 Burbank Boulevard 91601 16 Foothill Police Station, 12760 Osborne Street 91331 17 Devonshire Police Station, 10250 Etiwanda Avenue 91324 18 Southeast Police Station, 145 West 108th Street 90061 19 Mission Police Station, 11121 North Sepulveda Boulevard 91345 20 Olympic Police Station, 1130 South Vermont Avenue 90006 21 Topanga Police Station, 21501 Schoenborn Street 91304

Transportation Patrol cars

The Ford Police Interceptor Utility is the LAPD's primary vehicle, mainly used for patrol operations. Models in use range from 2013 to 2025. The LAPD also uses the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan, however it is mostly seen used by area traffic divisions, not by patrol. The LAPD, as of 2025 usually uses marked versions of the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and Dodge Charger Pursuit as auxiliary cars when supplemental vehicles are needed for large-scale situations such as riot deployments. It is important to mention that slicktop versions of both FPIUs, FPIS' and CVPIs can be seen on the streets, which area gang units within the LAPD use. Chevrolet Impala 9C1s and Dodge Challenger were also purchased in small numbers in the 2000s. With the Ford Crown Victoria's discontinuation in 2011 and the Ford Taurus' discontinuation in 2019, the LAPD has shifted from sedans to crossovers, purchasing primarily the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. The LAPD also uses a small number of Chevrolet Tahoe PPVs, though they are gradually decommissioning them due to their poor gas mileage.

LAPD vehicles are ordered painted in black clearcoat with the roof, doors, and pillars painted white from the factory, though some vehicles assigned to special divisions, such as K-9 or the bomb squad, may be painted all-white or all-black. Options available from Ford ordered by the LAPD today include dual pillar-mounted Unity spotlights, 16-inch heavy duty steel wheels with chrome center caps, and ballistic panels within the two front doors. Most LAPD patrol cars bear at least two rear bumper stickers: one reading "There's NO Excuse - For Domestic Violence", and another reading "Watch The Road - Operation Traffix". On the rear side panel is a black and white sticker that reads "EMERGENCY DIAL 9-1-1 Fire Police Medical." The front door design is similar to most other city government fleet vehicles, and consists of the city seal, the department slogan ("to protect and to serve"), the five-digit "shop number" (a fleet vehicle identification number custom to the city government; format "00000"), and city department name ("POLICE"). The last three numbers of the shop number are reprinted on the roof to help air units visually identify cars. On the trunk is a number that identifies which division the unit belongs to (e.g. 25 would be "South Traffic Division", or 03 would be "Southwest Area"). The LAPD has used the same black-and-white paint scheme and markings since roughly 1940 with minimal modifications.

Unmarked cars

The LAPD has many unmarked vehicles, primarily used by special units such as gang units, detectives, SWAT, and some traffic units. They are usually assigned Ford Crown Victorias, Ford Explorers, Dodge Chargers, Chevrolet Impalas, and Chevrolet Tahoes.

Certain investigative units, such as detectives, vice, special investigations, homicide units, may be assigned civilian vehicles that are not normally used for police work, ranging from civilian models of cruisers (such as Ford Crown Victorias, Ford Explorers, Dodge Chargers, Chevrolet Tahoes) to common civilian vehicles (such as Honda Civics and Chevrolet Silverados). These differentiate from traditional unmarked cruisers due to their prevalence among regular civilian traffic and their lack of police equipment.

Special vehicles

The LAPD Metropolitan Division SWAT operates a fleet of unmarked Chevrolet Suburbans and Chevrolet Tahoes alongside regular unmarked cruisers. They also operate a fleet of armored SWAT vehicles, primarily Lenco BearCats and possibly also a Cadillac Gage Commando, which are designated as "Rescue" vehicles. As well as specialized variant M113 APCs.

The bomb squad and the K-9 unit both operate a mix of all-white cruisers and pickup trucks (the bomb squad also operates all-black vehicles as well), such as the Ford Police Interceptor Utility and the GMC Sierra. The bomb squad also operated a custom Peterbilt 367 with a Total Containment Vessel until June 2021, when it was destroyed after illegal fireworks accidentally detonated while being stored in the truck.

The LAPD uses various trucks, including a Peterbilt used to move a mobile command center trailer, and several retired military flatbeds acquired from the 1033 Program. At least two modified Pierce rescue trucks are used by SWAT and the bomb squad. The LAPD also uses several vans, with white Ford E-Series, Ford Transit, Chevrolet Express, and Chevrolet Astro vans being used for transport, administrative, and special purposes. The LAPD Honor Guard is transported in a white Ford Transit.

The LAPD briefly had a Lamborghini Gallardo with a black-and-white livery and patrol-specification lighting. The Gallardo was loaned to the department in 2014 and was used to promote the Air Support Division at several promotional events. As it was on loan and has not made any further appearances, it is likely no longer used by the department. Other vehicles the LAPD uses to promote recruitment include the Hummer H3 and the GMC Yukon.

On September 11, 2015, the Mayor of Los Angeles announced a plan to lease 160 battery electric vehicles and 128 plug-in hybrids for city department use. In 2016, the LAPD leased a Tesla Model S and a BMW i3 for testing purposes, and decided to purchase 100 BMW i3s for administrative and non-emergency duties. However, they were almost never used due to concerns over their low mileage, and were decommissioned and sold in bulk for $19,000 each in 2020.

A cruiser with 1-Adam-12 markings is used by Central Division to reward officers for "outstanding duty performance". It was activated in 2003. It is unknown if the vehicle is still used. A specially-marked 2001 Ford Crown Victoria with an older Federal Signal Aerodynic lightbar (used by the LAPD in the 1980s and 1990s) is used by officers assigned to patrol Panorama Mall; despite its visible age, it is still in service as of November 2020.

Motorcycles

The LAPD motor unit is one of the oldest and largest in the world, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2009 with 304 sworn motor officers on its rolls at the time, 259 officers, 32 sergeants, 1 lieutenant, and 12 reserve officers. The LAPD is also unique in that it allows retired motor officers to further supplement that number for events or other permitted activities to handle traffic control and non-law enforcement roles due to the volume of public activities that occur within the city.

Indian, Thor, Excelsior-Henderson, Harley-Davidson, Moto Guzzi, Honda, Kawasaki, and BMW motorcycles have all been represented in LAPD's fleet, which currently consists primarily of Harley-Davidson FLHP and BMW R1250RT-P motorcycles. LAPD motorcycles are painted black and white and carry a radio, emergency lights, a long gun, police equipment, and police documentation. The LAPD was also one of the first departments to test and operate a small fleet of Zero electric motorcycles and scooters. Motorcycle units are typically not deployed during rainy or inclement weather, during which traffic units patrol in cruisers.

Aircraft

One of the largest municipal police air forces in the world, the LAPD Air Support Division maintains 21 helicopters and 1 fixed-wing aircraft. Older helicopters were painted silver and blue; newer models use the traditional black-and-white paint schemes, similar to patrol cars. The letters "LAPD" appear on the top side of the aircraft in blue, capital letters. LAPD air units (known as "Airships") use Eurocopter AS350B2 AStars, Bell 206B-IIIs, and the Bell 412. They are equipped with a wide variety of electronics and equipment that include a 30 million candlepower Nightsun spotlight, optical FLIR cameras and electronically stabilized binoculars, a LoJack signal receiver, and police radios. The Air Support Division operates from LAPD Hooper Heliport in downtown Los Angeles, and Van Nuys Airport.