LAPD Criticized for Poor Documentation of Overseas Training, Raising Oversight and Funding Concerns
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been criticized in a new report by the Police Commission's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for its failure to adequately document overseas training activities involving its employees. Over the past decade, LAPD employees attended at least nine training sessions in Israel and dozens of other international seminars and conferences. However, officers routinely failed to document what they learned or who they met.
Over the past decade, LAPD employees attended at least nine training sessions in Israel and dozens of other international seminars and conferences, but officers routinely failed to document what they learned or who they met.
Report Findings
The OIG report found that the LAPD lacks a systematic approach to tracking employees participating in training with law enforcement agencies globally. The report examined 117 "foreign training activities" attended by 243 LAPD employees since 2014. While LAPD officials stated that no tactics, policies, or training programs were adopted based on these trips, the OIG noted that insufficient records made verification impossible.
Participants were generally required to seek permission for department-related international travel but often only filed brief statements about their trips. Comprehensive documentation of key takeaways, practical applications, or potential benefits to the department was largely absent.
Specific Training Engagements
The LAPD has engaged with Israeli security forces for training since the 1980s, increasing these interactions after the September 11 attacks, citing a shared objective in combating extremism. Since 2014, 18 LAPD officials traveled to Israel, incurring costs totaling $87,000.
An instance cited involved a deputy chief and seven other employees attending a "Command and Control Counter-Terrorism" event in Israel, costing $52,470 via a federal grant. However, police officials provided no information on the trip's accomplishments or benefits beyond promoting "executive development."
Beyond Israel, LAPD personnel visited other countries, focusing on diverse areas:
- Canada: Nearly a quarter of documented trips, focusing on human trafficking investigations and clandestine drug labs.
- Italy and France: For preparations related to hosting the Olympics.
- Thailand and Austria: For training on crowd-control tactics.
- Colombia, United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, Poland: For police aviation conventions.
- Singapore, France, England: For Interpol-led instruction on investigating crimes against children.
Funding and Oversight Deficiencies
Approximately 80% of overseas trips were funded through external sources, such as police foundations and grants. For these externally funded trips, even fewer detailed records were maintained, as personnel were not expected to justify their travel in such instances.
The OIG highlighted concerns regarding the anonymity of funding sources, noting that "potential risks and the perception of conflicts of interest associated with such funding outweigh the benefits of maintaining the anonymity of funding sources." The department also lacks procedures to assess potential security risks in host countries or to vet foreign contacts with U.S. national security agencies to ensure they are not affiliated with intelligence services or extremist groups.
The OIG highlighted concerns regarding the anonymity of funding sources, noting that "potential risks and the perception of conflicts of interest associated with such funding outweigh the benefits of maintaining the anonymity of funding sources."
Department Response and Recommendations
During a recent Police Commission meeting, LAPD officials acknowledged the need for improved tracking of employee overseas travel and stated that a new system is being developed. They also noted that many travel records prior to 2021 were deleted in accordance with the department’s data retention policies.
The OIG recommended that the LAPD, at a minimum, track the location, category, and topics of each training event. Ideally, the department should also require participants to complete evaluation reports detailing lessons learned and their practical applications for department operations.
Public and Stakeholder Concerns
The LAPD's relationships with foreign security services, including those from countries accused of human rights violations, have previously drawn scrutiny. The OIG report referenced prior reporting by The Times regarding five members of the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Interior training at the LAPD Police Academy in 2023.
The Council of American-Islamic Relations’ greater Los Angeles chapter (CAIR-LA) expressed concerns about the lack of documentation and private funding, citing potential bias. CAIR-LA's legal director stated that the absence of documented learning and the presence of private funding could create conflicts of interest.
While LAPD officials have previously stated that cultural exchanges foster understanding for combating international organized crime and terrorist threats, the OIG concluded that the lack of detailed records makes it nearly impossible to assess the value of these trips or ensure tactics align with existing policies.
The OIG concluded that the lack of detailed records makes it nearly impossible to assess the value of these trips or ensure tactics align with existing policies, raising concerns about potential bias and conflicts of interest.