Review of the LAPD Response to First Amendment Assemblies and Protests

The Los Angeles National Policing Institute, on behalf of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners (LABOPC), contracted the National Policing Institute (NPI) to conduct an independent assessment of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) response to mass demonstrations, protests, and First Amendment assemblies that occurred between May 27, 2020, and June 7, 2020 in the City of Los Angeles.

Project Overview

The purpose of this NPI after action review is to assist the LABOPC and the LAPD to improve the Department’s preparation and response to future similar events. Putting resources toward this type of review while only occasionally undertaken by cities or city stakeholders demonstrates the willingness of the LABOPC and the LAPD to consider reimagining policing in the City of Los Angeles, to addressing challenges in community-police interactions, and to protecting First Amendment assemblies and protests.

Methodology

In order to conduct this AAR, the NPI assessment team—comprised of subject matter experts in law enforcement, police-community relations, response to First Amendment assemblies and protests, policy analysis, police data analysis, and research—developed and implemented a process that involved multiple methods of information gathering, collection, and analysis. The NPI assessment team gathered feedback, information, and data through:

interviews, focus groups, and anonymous feedback;
LAPD and City of LA resources and data;
open-source news and social media review; and,
national academic and public safety resources.

Results

Through its review of the LAPD response to the SAFE LA First Amendment assemblies and protests that occurred between May 27 and June 7, 2020, the NPI assessment team made 22 findings, each of which are discussed in greater detail within the report.