LAPD Duty Weapons

[EBWhite]

Hey guys-

I was at school today and spoke with the LAPD recruiters about taking the first test. I have always been interested in becoming a police officer but was not always the first choice. They might be easier to get the job with since they have a lack of applicants and are on a hiring binge with the new trash tax .

What carry weapons does LAPD allow? Are they issued or personally owned? I prefer carrying a Hi-power or 1911- does LAPD allow this?

I know LAPD approved kimber 1911's for the SWAT but I was not sure if it was okay for patrol officers....

What about backup/ankle guns with LAPD? A nice j-frame or seecamp sound good to me.

-EB

[Ryan HBC]

Almost all of the ones I talk to carry a Glock 22 and Glock 27. Not sure exactly what the rules are, but I can tell you that you won't be carrying a hi power. And most likely not a 1911.

[EBWhite]

Maybe the Hi-power would work, it does have SFS on it which I heard helps for qualifying with some departments.

[rorschach]

I believe there are only a few weapons on the LAPD approved list.

Beretta 92F's are issued at the academy, and IIRC, officers may upgrade upon completion of probation. For a while following the North Hollywood shootout, officers could upgrade to a S&W 4506, but Glocks are authorized now. I dont know many LAPD guys but the few I do know, carry either the Beretta or various Glocks. Patrol officers are not authorized to carry 1911's, or any single action auto for that matter. SWAT uses 1911's, but because they are not their primary weapon, only a backup, and they train RELIGIOUSLY with them.

But hey, the options are better than in the CHP where your only choice is the 4006. If you're a Lieutenant or higher, or assigned a cushy plainclothes detail, like ISU or Auto Theft, you can carry a 4013 "Shorty Forty!" (big wow)

Up until recently, I think Vernon PD used 1911's. LASO is all Beretta. I would say plenty of departments here in SoCal are now Glock, a few USP, with some S&W and Beretta holdouts. I know Monterey Park just ditched their 5906 in favor of G22's.

I remember some officers here in Downey carrying HK squeezecockers as duty weapons. Seems like the few I see now carry USP's.

[xYourLocalAR15x]

you dont get sh*t and you get treated like sh*t.

it really sucks, LAPD is one of the harder jobs here in socal yet their equipment blows. Rifle? please, you get a shotgun. While, the cops in our city get mp5s on their motobikes and word has it they might be issued ar15's. I live in a white sub. area... hardly any crime. why they need mp5s is beyond me.


If you want to be an LAPD, be ready to take as much sh*t as you can. I respect the LAPD and really admire the line of work they do.

[Diabolus]

you dont get sh*t and you get treated like sh*t.

it really sucks, LAPD is one of the harder jobs here in socal yet their equipment blows. Rifle? please, you get a shotgun. While, the cops in our city get mp5s on their motobikes and word has it they might be issued ar15's. I live in a white sub. area... hardly any crime. why they need mp5s is beyond me.


If you want to be an LAPD, be ready to take as much sh*t as you can. I respect the LAPD and really admire the line of work they do.

Working for the LAPD is one of the worst jobs a cop can have. I respect them fully and I cannot believe they subject themselves to the treatment they get from the public and the administration.

[elsolo]

I did once see cops at Venice beach carrying 1911's. this was a few years ago and I surprised the hell out of me. I also read that Hermosa Beach cops got 1911's, but I have no valid source for you.


The previous poster thast said you get a beretta, but can move to a glock or SW is what the LAPD detective I shoot with occasionally has told me.

[Mute]

Beretta, S&W and Glock are the approved firearms for the LAPD. The individual officer can decide if they want 9mm, .40 S&W or .45acp. In .45acp, as already noted, the Glocks had some issues. So for those who wants .45acp, it's either a Beretta or S&W. Only the SWAT team members are allowed to use 1911's, at least since I last spoke to my friend who's an LAPD officer.

[mailman]

The LAPD do get to drive like madmen when they are in a high speed persuit though!






.

[Neil McCauley]

Didn't you watch SWAT? In the DVD, it shows you everything LAPD SWAT uses. If you want to know what regular peace officers use just find one on the street and grill him. Course you should ask nicely and express your interest in a career as a LEO.

[VeryCoolCat]

Too bad the LAPD doesn't use barretts... a single shot from a barrett through an engine block would stop most high speed chases. Its what they do in afghanistan.

[rorschach]

LAPD SWAT does have a Barrett in their inventory. Ronnie Barrett refuses to provide any parts/support for it since Bratton publicly endorsed AB50.

To answer the comment above, the only time officers are allowed to fire their weapons are to protect themselves or others from death and or great bodily injury, this includes fleeing felons who if they escape, may inflict death or great bodily injury. Believe it or not, but officers can also fire to kill large wounded animals. About 20 years ago, at the scene of a horse trailer accident, a CHP officer was killed when his partner tried to shoot the gravely wounded horse, and the round ricocheted off the horses skull and hit the other officer in the head.

Shots cannot be fired to stop pursuits, and the City of L.A. (though not much different) is not Afghanistan.

CORRECTION: The CHP officer killed was Officer Dana Paladini, and it was over 30 years ago, not 20, and he was shot by an LA County deputy sheriff. http://www.camemorial.org/htmprev/paladini.htm

[VeryCoolCat]

LAPD SWAT does have a Barrett in their inventory. Ronnie Barrett refuses to provide any parts/support for it since Bratton publicly endorsed AB50.

To answer the comment above, the only time officers are allowed to fire their weapons are to protect themselves or others from death and or great bodily injury, this includes fleeing felons who if they escape, may inflict death or great bodily injury. Believe it or not, but officers can also fire to kill large wounded animals. About 20 years ago, at the scene of a horse trailer accident, a CHP officer was killed when his partner tried to shoot the gravely wounded horse, and the round ricocheted off the horses skull and hit the other officer in the head.

Shots cannot be fired to stop pursuits, and the City of L.A. (though not much different) is not Afghanistan.

I don't know but why can't officers use a .50 to stop a chase... my reasoning being.

Hes fleeing in a vehicle. That makes him a fleeing felon. A vehicle is considered a weapon when used as such. Thus hes an armed felon. Hes putting the lives of officers and bystanders in danger.

In the UK the brits would all speed up then suround someones vehicle with 4 vehicles and stop em and they are pretty good at it. I bet the deparment takes payouts from the news crews to drag it on longer.

[slowjonn]

I bet the deparment takes payouts from the news crews to drag it on longer.

Yeah, they do that to offeset the cost of all the lawsuits.

[rorschach]

Last I read the Cal Vehicle Code, simple evasion was a misdemeanor, not a felony warranting deadly force. Even if there is reckless driving (3 moving violations at the time of evasion) it still may not even be a felony, its a wobbler. It's very doubtful depatmental policy would ever allow shooting a .50BMG through the engine to stop a vehicle, to much liabilty (bystanders, etc.) The only hypothetical I see that happening is if the car was speeding directly at the marksman on the ground (why would he be on the ground directly in front of a pursuit anyway??) in which case he wouldnt shoot at the engine block, but directly at the driver.

And keeping on topic, I dont think one should join any particular department simply based on what weapon they carry. Not to rip on the OP, I think it's admirable that he is interested in the job, particularly with a department tasked with a VERY tough job, but I think anyone should join a department because they want to do some good for the community. Reminds me of a guy I was an Explorer with, who wanted to join the LAPD just because they had "cooler badges" than the CHP or LASO.