The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is the police department of the City of Los Angeles, California. With over 9,500 officers and 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of 473 square miles with a population of more than 3.5 million people, it is the fifth largest law enforcement agency in the United States (trailing behind the NYPD, Chicago Police Department, California Department of Corrections, and FBI).
The department has been heavily fictionalized in numerous movies and television shows. It has also been involved in a number of controversies, perhaps most notably the infamous Rodney King incident and the subsequent 1992 Los Angeles riots.
The LAPD should not be confused with the Los Angeles General Services Police.
The LAPD has vast resources, including the second largest civilian air force in the world. Only the Office of CBP Air & Marine, commands a larger force of 250 aircraft.
Air Support Division resources include 21 helicopters ranging from 4 Bell 206 Jet Rangers to 16 Eurocopter AS350-B2 Écureuils, and 1 Bell UH-1 Huey (Although grounded due to maintenance issues).
LAPD also has 1 Beechcraft Kingair A200 and 1 unspecified and undenied drone.
Main Airship missions are flown out of downtown's Piper Tech center at the Hooper Heliport, located outside of Union Station.
LAPD also houses air units at Van Nuys airport.
At one time the LAPD also had a military submarine.(According to the LA Police Historical Society)
History
The first specific Los Angeles police force was founded in 1853 as the Los Angeles Rangers, a volunteer force that assisted the existing County forces.
The Rangers were soon succeeded by the Los Angeles City Guards, another volunteer group.
Neither force was particularly efficient and Los Angeles became known for its violence, gambling and "vice".
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