The Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) is a law enforcement agency in Los Angeles, California, whose duties are to provide police services to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) (thus, sometimes called L.A. Unified Police), also enforcing state and city laws. LASPD officers assist staff with disturbances and potential criminal activity on the campuses and in the surrounding communities on a daily basis.
Organization
The Los Angeles School Police Department was established in August 1948 to provide police services to the Los Angeles Unified School District. The department deploys six police divisions (Northwest, Northeast, West, Central, East, and South) with assignments consisted of Canine (K-9), Youth Services Divisions (Police Explorers, PALs Program), Safe Passages, Honor Guard, C.R.T. (Critical Response Team), Communications, Recruitment, Training Unit, Fleet Management, Payroll Section, Budget Services Unit, Records Unit, and Crime Analysis Unit.
Responsibility 24 hours a day, the LASPD is responsible for providing police services to:Official Site
A jurisdiction covering Approximately 618,000 students Approximately 72,000 teachers, administrators and additional school staff Approximately 1,300 schools, centers, and administrative offices
Ranks The LASPD deploys sworn personnel in a variety of ranks:
TitleInsigniaChief of policeDeputy chief of policePolice lieutenantPolice sergeantPolice detectiveSenior police officerPolice officerPolice recruit
Assignments
Assignments within the Police Department include:
Campus Police Officer Patrol Officer Field Training Officer Criminal Investigation CanineLASPD K-9 Unit Special Investigation Background Investigation Training and Support ServicesLASPD Training and Support Services Traffic Enforcement TechnologyLASPD Technology Unit Police Explorers Special Response Team (S.R.T.) Supervising School Safety Officer (non-sworn position) School Safety Officer (non-sworn position)LASPD School Safety Officers Police Dispatcher (civilian position)LASPD Dispatchers Specialist Reserve Officer (civilian position)LASPD Specialist Reserve Officer Records, payroll, subpoena and other clerical support staff (civilian position)LASPD Administrative Clerk
All police officers must complete a probationary period after graduation from the police academy. Prior to selection to any specialized unit, there may also be an additional 3-5 year field assignment prerequisite.
Controversy The LASPD has accepted crowd- and disturbance-control weapons including one armored vehicle and firearms from the federal government. Superintendent Ramón Cortines of LAUSD confirmed in June 2015 that the district's police force has ended its involvement in a federal program that delivered military-grade weapons to school districts. The decision on the so-called 1033 Program came on the heels of President Obama‘s announcement in May that he was severely restricting the parameters of the program.
On June 23, 2020, following student activism inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the LA Unified School District school board considered three resolutions to begin de-funding of the department. Also at issue was the departments use of pepper spray, which had been used 11 times during the 2018–19 school year.
See also
List of law enforcement agencies in California School resource officer
References
External links Los Angeles School Police Department Official Site Los Angeles School Police Department Police Cars Los Angeles School Police Department Police Cars Los Angeles School Police Association Los Angeles School Police Department K-9 Unit