LAPD 2021 Year-End Review Use of Force Report NR22099ll

Los Angeles: In pursuit of full transparency, each year since 2015, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has compiled data and statistics relating to Departmental uses of force and published them in the Use of Force Year-End Review (Report). This comprehensive document provides an in-depth critical look at the preceding 5-years of data relating to the use of force by Los Angeles police officers. This report primarily focuses on the calendar year 2021.

Chief of Police Michel R. Moore stated, “Reverence for human life remains our guiding principle as officers encounter chaotic and dangerous situations daily. We remain committed to doing everything possible to reduce the incidence of Officer-Involved Shootings with ongoing training and state-of-the-art tools and tactics.”

Today the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners was presented the full report and high-level review. Below are a few highlights of the report and where the complete report can be found.

Gun Recovery and Violent Crime

 A total of 8,661 firearms were recovered in 2021; this was a 33 percent increase compared to 2020 and the highest number of firearms in more than a decade. Twenty-two percent of those guns recovered were ghost guns, more than double the ghost gun recoveries compared to 2020.

Officer-Involved Shootings

 While the incidence of Officer-Involved Shootings (OIS) increased from 27 in 2020 to 37 in 2021, the four-year period has seen the fewest number of overall shootings in more than three decades. Additionally, the rate of OISs has decreased significantly from 2021, with a total of 6 year to date for 2022 versus 12 year to date for 2021.

In 2021, 54 percent of OISs  involved offenders who were armed with weapons other than firearms. The year 2021 represented the lowest percentage of OISs involving firearms, 41 percent, since 2015.

OIS incidents involving those experiencing a mental health crisis and those involving persons experiencing homelessness also increased in 2021. Mental Health Crisis increased by 41 percent, and persons experiencing homelessness increased by 27 percent.

OIS Suspect Demographics

 Of the suspect involved in OIS incidents in 2021,  65 percent were Hispanic, 19 percent were African American, 13.5 percent were White, and 2.5 percent identified as Other.

 Training Review and Efforts

 In response to the increase in OIS involving weapons other than firearms and persons experiencing mental illness, the LAPD Training Bureau developed a curriculum geared toward critical thinking, force mitigation, and minimizing lethal encounters with weapons other than firearms. The training utilizes the concepts of:

• Command and control;
• Availability and use of less-lethal options;
• Accountability

In 2021, 90 percent of officers responding to radio calls were trained in ‘Mental Health Intervention Training.’  Additionally, through the generosity of the Los Angeles Police Foundation, the Department has acquired a state-of-the-art Virtual Reality training capability that will be utilized to train teams of officers and supervisors when encountering mentally ill persons and weapons other than firearms.

To view the complete report, please visit => https://lapdonlinestrgeacc.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/lapdonlinemedia/2022/04/2_2021-UOF-YER-compressed.pdf

The Los Angeles Police Department continues to be a leader in innovative practices, policies, technologies, and approaches to community engagement. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.