Investigation into LAPD Officer Misconduct During Recent Protests

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is currently looking into over 80 complaints regarding officer misconduct that arose during last month’s protests. Notably, more than half of these complaints involve allegations of excessive force.

Michael Limkunas, who heads the LAPD’s Specialist Standards and Standards Bureau, confirmed that there are 86 cases under investigation as of now. Among these, 59 cases relate to concerns about the use of force, alongside other serious allegations, including complaints from citizens expressing disappointment with officers’ actions.

“We’re examining every report that’s been filed,” Limkunas remarked. He oversees the Interior and Force Investigation Division, which addresses police shootings and other serious incidents resulting in injuries or fatalities.

Most of the complaints were submitted by citizens through the inspector’s office or the LAPD complaint hotline. Interestingly, a few complaints were initiated internally after the department identified suspicious officer behaviors highlighted in a report by the Times.

The response by the LAPD to these protests has been widely criticized, described as excessive and indiscriminate by both protesters and press organizations, who argue that the use of force was unwarranted.

An ACLU representative in Southern California mentioned that they had received reports from over 250 individuals who witnessed police misconduct during the protests, which began after recent immigration-related events.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell has promised to investigate the incidents more thoroughly, defending his officers’ actions during a demonstration where they faced crowds throwing various projectiles, including bottles and fireworks.

Limkunas stated that an internal task force, consisting of investigators and a captain, is currently interviewing witnesses and reviewing hours of body camera footage and evidence concerning officers’ conduct. The use of a 40 mm “low lethal” projectile is also being scrutinized, he noted.

As of now, the department has initiated investigations into three cases where individuals required hospitalization due to police actions. Limkunas added that the number of injury-related cases may rise as more victims come forward. Detectives have been tasked with visiting local hospitals to gather information about anyone who may not have reported their injuries to the department. Many protesters have claimed that LAPD projectiles led to serious bruises and lacerations.

Long-time observers of the LAPD are viewing this response as a crucial test of whether recent reform efforts have made the department more accountable for potentially harmful crowd-control strategies that have drawn lawsuits over the years.

“To put an end to this, we need to send a clear message that this behavior is unacceptable,” stated civil rights attorney James Desimone, who announced legal action on behalf of three clients injured by police projectiles at a recent press conference.

While LAPD’s extensive framework for investigating and training officers has faced criticism for inadequately punishing inappropriate behavior, there are voices within the department who argue that the complaints often flood in indiscriminately.

Reports from the major protests in 2020 highlighted significant flaws in how the department handled demonstrations, suggesting that planning, training, and communication needed considerable improvement.

A lawsuit filed in 2021 by a captain implicated the department in excessive force claims stemming from a confrontation in August 2020 between Trump supporters and other groups. Captain Johnny Smith was reported to have found many complaints “basically unfounded,” despite video evidence showing officers using aggressive measures against protesters who posed no immediate threat.

An internal memo from Smith indicated that he and his team uncovered numerous policy violations linked to the use of physical force and expressed concerns over potential bias among officers.

Among the incidents he flagged were included in lawsuits from individuals injured by police actions, including an Associated Press photographer struck by a beanbag round. Smith claimed that his efforts prompted a reevaluation of complaints that had previously been dismissed.

However, he alleged that when he attempted to communicate his findings through departmental channels, another LAPD official intercepted his memo, suppressing the most serious allegations. Smith also accuses his colleagues of misleadingly claiming that officers used less lethal munitions when provoked by protesters. He believes he was retaliated against by department leaders through a separate internal investigation.

Both Smith and his attorney opted not to comment further on the situation. The city, meanwhile, has denied any claims arising from the court’s inquiries.

Limkunas refrained from discussing the ongoing lawsuits, stating he is not authorized to speak on these pending matters.