Los Angeles Police Department

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The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD for short) is currently the third largest police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the Greater Los Angeles Area. It has its headquarters in Los Angeles, California.

Overview[]

The LAPD has a wide-ranging array of particular services, including tactical operations, K-9, harbor patrol, air support, bomb disposal, counter-terrorism, intelligence, anti-gang, narcotics, public transportation, and public housing.

Radio Codes[]

Code 1: Answer radio
Code 2: Respond to the call without emergency lights and sirens
Code 3: Respond to the call with lights and sirens
Code 4: No further units needed to respond, return to patrol
Code 5: Stakeout, marked police cars must avoid location
Code 6: Unit conducting field investigation, no assistance required
Code 7: Meal break request
Code 8: Fire reported in area of high fire hazard or threat to firefighting personnel
Code 10: Request to clear frequency for broadcoast of wanted/warrant information
Code 12: Request to clear frequency for request for information on potential individual arrest warrant
Code 20: Notify media (or media already on scene)
Code 30: Burglar alarm
Code 37: Vehicle is reported stolen
Code 100: Notify other units that a possible escape route of a suspect

Unit Callsigns[]

Each unit is represented by an LAPD-specific callsign, typically made up of three elements: Division Number, Unit Type, Service Identification Letter/"Beat" Number.

A: Basic Patrol Car (includes 2 uniformed officers)
Air: Airship
DV: Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) Unit
E: Traffic Enforcement Automobile Unit
F: Specialized Investigate Unit / Crime Task Force Unit
K9: K-9 (Canine) Division
L: Basic Patrol Car (includes 1 uniformed officer)
N: Narcotics Unit
V: Vice Unit
W: Detective Unit

Ranks[]

Senior ranks[]

Rank	insignia	Notes
Chief of the police (highest)		The Chief is in charge of the entire Department. Appointment made by the mayor of Los Angeles, with majority approval of the Police Commission. Should have a college degree and at least 12 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience. Since 1876, there have been 58 appointed chiefs of the LAPD. William H. Parker was the longest serving police chief in LAPD history, serving as chief for 16 years.
Assistant Chief of Police		Deputy Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs are in charge of specific police areas or support areas within the Department
Deputy Chief of Police
Police Commander		Eligibility for rank promotion achieved after completion of required probationary periods.
Police Captain I–III
Police Lieutenant I–II
Insignia are worn as metal pins on the collars of a shirt and as shoulders marks on a jacket.

Junior officer ranks[]

Rank	Insignia	Notes
Police Detective III		At least two years' service as Sergeant II or Detective III before eligibility for promotion to Lieutenant I.
Police Sergeant II
Police Detective II		Promotion from Detective I after at least one year of service, based on supervisory evaluations and demonstrated investigative ability.
Police Sergeant I		At least four years' service as a Police Officer before becoming eligible for promotion to Sergeant I (which requires a written examination, an interview, and a background investigation).
Police Detective I		Entry-level position in the Detective rank, requiring at least four years of service as a Police Officer and successful completion of the Detective selection process, which includes a written examination, an interview, and a background check. Detective I positions are generally assigned to specialized investigative units and work under the supervision of higher-ranking detectives or command staff.
Police Officer III+1		Certain Police Officer IIIs in special or hazard pay situations are denoted by a Police Officer III insignia and star. These roles can include traffic follow-up investigators, canine training officers, SWAT platoon element leaders, and Senior Lead Officers who coordinate geographical areas.
Police Officer III		At least four years' service as a Police Officer before becoming eligible for promotion to Sergeant I or Detective I (which requires an additional examination and interview).
Police Officer II	No Insignia	At least three' years service as a Police Officer before eligibility for promotion to Police Officer III.
Police Officer I	No Insignia	Automatic promotion to Police Officer II upon satisfactory completion of an 18-month probationary assignment (6 months at the academy plus a 12-month field assessment).
Insignia are worn as embroidered chevrons on the upper sleeves of a shirt or jacket.