City Council Backs Limits On LAPD’s Use Of ‘Militarized Police’ At Protests, Activists Are Skeptical

The Los Angeles City Council has advanced a proposal to implement a 'graded response' model for the LAPD's handling of protests, aiming to reduce the use of militarized police and enhance communication between officers and protesters. The model, similar to those in New York and Boston, suggests deploying regular uniformed officers before resorting to heavily-armed units like SWAT. The proposal cites a 2020 study that found the use of militarized police often leads to increased conflict. While some activists welcome the proposal, others remain skeptical about its potential impact and the LAPD's history of minimal change despite previous 'reforms'.