Metropolitan Division

Mission Statement of the Metro Division

The mission of Metropolitan Division is to support the Department’s community-based policing efforts to reduce the incidence and the fear of crime on a Citywide basis. This is accomplished by developing and deploying a reserve force of the most highly trained and disciplined personnel possible. The effectiveness of the Department’s field commanders in realizing the long-term goals of the Department is enhanced by Metropolitan Division’s controlled application of specialized tactics/equipment and the ongoing training and leadership provided by Metropolitan Division to the Department.

History of the Metro Division

Originally, Metro was known as the Reserve Unit, hence the “R” radio designation assigned to all current Metro units. In the early years, Metro was in Room 114 of the Police Administrative Building (PAB), also known as Parker Center. The designation of “114” for Metro Headquarters has remained, although the division has relocated several times since.

In 1968, the Division was expanded from 70 officers to approximately 200 officers. In 1982, the K9 Platoon became part of Metro, followed by E-Platoon in 1988. In 1997, following the North Hollywood bank robbery, the Division was authorized to increase in personnel to approximately 290 sworn personnel. In 2016, Metropolitan Division increased to 486 sworn personnel, allowing a MACTAC-like response to crime trends. In 2019, the Division was decreased to 392 sworn personnel due to a Department-wide managed attrition restructure.

Today, the primary responsibility of Metro continues to be to provide support to the Department’s community-based policing efforts by deploying additional crime suppression resources throughout the City. Assignments range from the uniformed crime suppression details to training the Department In-Service personnel. They also perform continuous skills training of Metro personnel in a variety of disciplines. They conduct respond to high-risk barricaded situations, perform stakeouts, dignitary (VIP) security, warrant service, and they assist investigators in solving major crimes. Being at the forefront during emergencies and natural disasters, Metropolitan Division has developed contingency plans and simulation training. The Division is also trained to respond to potential counterinsurgency or terrorist situations.

Metro Division Organization

A Police Captain III is the Commanding Officer for Metro and a Police Captain II serves as the Assistant Commanding Officer for the Division. There are eight operational platoons and one administrative platoon, with a Lieutenant as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of each. M Platoon consists of Metro Operations Section (MOS), which performs the administrative functions of the Division, the Armory, Training Unit, Dive Unit, and Metro Desk.

B and C Platoons are tactical support platoons with an emphasis on assisting investigators solve major crimes. Crime Impact Team (CIT) is a tactical surveillance team which can provide support to divisional and specialized detective entities. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) (D Platoon), Mounted Unit (E Platoon), H Platoon is responsible for the Dignitary Protection of the City Leaders, and K9 Platoon make up the remainder of the division.

∙B and C Platoons are citywide Tactical Response Teams (TRT) and are the core of Metro’s community-based policing efforts. Their primary function is to provide Tactical Support Platoon (TSP) members to better address the needs of the Department and the desires of the community by assisting patrol division detectives and specialized divisions/units with investigations.

In addition, they provide security at high-profile events such as the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, and championship sporting events. B and C Platoons are also tasked with the protection of Dignitaries, as well as high-profile individuals, and work closely with the United States Secret Service and the Department of State to provide protection for the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, and foreign heads of state.

An auxiliary duty An auxiliary duty of the TRTs is to provide Mobile Field Force (MFF) training and firearms training to thousands of in-service personnel annually. Additionally, the Rapid Extraction and Dismantling (RED) Team consists of highly trained personnel who specialize in extricating suspects participating in unlawful civil disobedience, respond to crowd control and mass arrest events, and support SWAT as tactically necessary.

∙“D” Platoon, or SWAT, in addition to its crime suppression assignments, has the duty of handling those situations where SWAT is necessary. SWAT provides the Department with 24-hour coverage necessary for immediate response to barricaded suspects, snipers, and other high-risk incidents. Rapid deployment, surprise, extensive tactics training and thorough planning are the hallmark of successful SWAT operations. SWAT makes extensive use of crisis negotiation training and techniques to resolve the many barricade, hostage, and potential suicide-related situations to which they are required to respond.

∙“K-9” Platoon deploys highly trained handlers and their canine partners to conduct searches and apprehend felony suspects. The dogs are agile, well disciplined, and often sacrifice their lives for officer safety. K-9 personnel are deployed around-the-clock, seven days a week. They are available to assist any Department entity with searches for felony suspects.

∙“E” Platoon, or Mounted Unit, began as a volunteer program and was formally integrated into the Department in 1988. The Platoon currently has 28 horses located in a state-of-the-art equestrian complex known at the Ahmanson Equestrian Facility. Officers and their horses deploy on City streets or during special events and add to the Department’s professional image. Beyond that, the Mounted Platoon performs crime suppression duties and responds to crowd control incidents.

∙Headquarters “H” Platoon is responsible for the Municipal Executives Protection Detail, which provides security for municipal executives, including the Mayor and the Chief of Police. Metro officers assigned to this detail receive extensive training in dignitary protection and maintain ongoing liaisons with various local and Federal agencies.

∙“M” Platoon (MOS) personnel provide administrative support for the Division. The Training Coordination Unit (TCU), also part of M Platoon, ensures compliance with state-mandated (POST) training within Metro, and coordinates significant Department-wide training such as Mobile Field Force, MACTAC, and firearms training. The Crime Analysis Detail analyzes crime patterns and liaisons with the Geographical Areas and Command Staff in an effort to most appropriately deploy Metro Crime Suppression resources. The Armory houses all the weaponry systems utilized by Metro, including the Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Vehicle (B.E.A.R.) Cub and B.E.A.R. Cat ballistic vehicles.

Metropolitan Division Armory is responsible for the purchasing, servicing, assignment and tracking of all equipment assigned to Metropolitan Division. The personnel assigned to the Armory receive extensive weapons training. Armory personnel respond to all SWAT operations in support capacity. Armory personnel are also responsible for testing evaluation of weapons systems and tactical equipment used by Metro personnel.

The Maritime Operations Team (MOT), (formerly Underwater Dive Unit) is permanently staffed by three sworn personnel assigned to Metro. The balance of the unit is comprised of officers from throughout the Department on an on-call basis. MOT is responsible for investigations of underwater crime scenes in the City of Los Angeles, Narcotic vessel hull searches, Reservoir and Dam searches and inspections, Vehicle search and recovery operations, Offshore Oil Rig searches and investigations and missions involving Homeland Security in the Port of Los Angeles. The permanent employees, assigned to Metro, are responsible for maintaining the UDU boats, the call out response vehicle, and all dive equipment, as well as responding to dive searches and call-outs.

The Metropolitan Division Crime Impact Team (CIT) was developed to combine multi-agency resources with Divisional assets to focus on short term investigations involving violent crimes, gang crimes, and crimes involving weapons.

(revised June 19, 2023)