Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)

By sherineeemadani

  • Origin of the LAPD

    The city of Los Angeles's first police department was a result of murder that had occurred in 1853 when Jack Whaling who was the community's second city marshal was killed by a bounty hunter. The city's first chief Dr. A.W. Hope organized "The Los Angles Rangers" who became the "city police".

  • First paid police force

    In 1869 the first paid police force was established with 6 officers who were assigned to two shifts and worked under the City Marshal William C. Warren.

  • First LAPD police chief

    The first LAPD police chief was Jacob F. Gerkens who gained this position after the abolition of the office of city marshal. He served from December 18, 1876 to December 26, 1877.

  • First Female Policewoman

    Alice Stebbins Wells who was a Los Angeles social worker had petition Mayor George Alexander and the City Council requested that an ordinance for Los Angles Police women be approved. Her request was approved and Alice Stebbins Wells became the nation's first female policewoman.

  • First Fingerprint Record

    The first fingerprinting record system was introduced to the public in 1911.

  • Black Dahlia

    The case of the "Black Dahlia" murder took Los Angeles by storm and became one of the most infamous crimes In Los Angeles history. This was the murder of Elizabeth Short.

  • SLA shootout

    On May 17th, 1974 the most heated police gunfight in U.S history broke out with a total of 9,000 rounds exchanged. The fight was between Symbionese Liberation Army members and several police officers. The shootout resulted in six members dying and no police officers injured.

  • Community Policing

    In 1999 a new system was established called "Community Policing" in hopes to improve accountability to community needs at all times. This system required officers to as liaison to a community for any concern at any given time.

  • Future for LAPD

    The LAPD hopes to modernize and create IT solutions for many departments. They lean towards improving these departments efforts by using the CRM platform and combining efforts of multiple entities.