History of Los Angeles Police Department in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 19, 2026

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is the primary law enforcement agency for the city of Los Angeles, California. Established in 1869, it has evolved into one of the largest and most influential police departments in the United States. Tasked with maintaining public order, preventing crime, and enforcing laws within the city's vast jurisdiction, the LAPD operates through various specialized divisions and bureaus. The department is globally recognized, often featuring prominently in popular culture, movies, and literature due to its complex history and its role in significant events within urban American law enforcement. While the LAPD has been a model for modern police training and forensic technology, it has also faced scrutiny throughout its history regarding civil rights, internal reform, and community relations. Today, the department focuses on community-based policing initiatives and technological advancements to address the challenges of serving a diverse, high-density metropolitan population.

1900: LAPD Force Expansion

In 1900, the Los Angeles Police Department reached a total of 70 officers under the leadership of John M. Glass, establishing a ratio of one officer for every 1,500 residents.

1903: Civil Service Implementation

Following the implementation of the Civil Service system in 1903, the police force in Los Angeles was expanded to 200 officers.

1910: First Female Officer Appointed

In 1910, Alice Stebbins Wells made history by becoming the first sworn female police officer in the United States while serving with the LAPD.

1910: Appointment of first female officer

In 1910, the LAPD hired Alice Stebbins Wells, marking the first time a female police officer in the United States was granted the power to arrest.

1916: First African-American Female Officer Appointed

In 1916, the LAPD hired Georgia Ann Robinson, marking the appointment of the first African-American female police officer in the department.

1919: Hiring of first black female officer

In 1919, the LAPD became one of the first departments in the nation to hire an African-American woman as a police officer, Georgia Ann Robinson.

1933: Formation of the Reserve Unit

In 1933, the LAPD established the Reserve Unit to assist with crime suppression, which eventually grew into the department's Metropolitan Division.

1943: Zoot Suit Riots

During 1943, the LAPD struggled to maintain order and effectively control the civil unrest known as the Zoot Suit Riots due to personnel shortages caused by World War II.

1946: Creation of the Gangster Squad

In 1946, the department organized a covert unit known as the Gangster Squad, specifically designed to counter the influence of the American Mafia and the Los Angeles crime family.

1946: First Latina officer hired

Josephine Serrano Collier became the first Latina officer hired by the LAPD in 1946.

1950: William H. Parker Appointed Chief

In 1950, William H. Parker assumed the role of Chief of the LAPD, succeeding interim chief William A. Worton and serving until his death in 1966.

1951: Bloody Christmas Scandal

The 1951 Bloody Christmas scandal brought significant public scrutiny to the department, resulting in widespread demands for civilian accountability and investigations into allegations of police brutality.

1965: Establishment of SWAT and Watts Riots

During 1965, Officer John Nelson and Inspector Daryl Gates created the first SWAT unit and the Special Investigation Section, while the city also experienced the Watts riots fueled by tensions over police abuse.

1965: Watts Riots racial disparity

During the 1965 Watts riots, only 5 out of 205 officers assigned to South Central Los Angeles were black, reflecting significant underrepresentation in the area.

1966: Death of William H. Parker

Chief William H. Parker, who strongly advocated for police professionalism and independence from civilian oversight, died in 1966, ending his long tenure at the helm of the LAPD.

1972: Election of Tom Bradley

In 1972, former LAPD officer Tom Bradley was elected as the first black mayor of Los Angeles, at a time when only 5% of the LAPD force was black.

1974: LAPD bilingual staffing count

In 1974, the Los Angeles Police Department reported having a total of 483 officers who were either bilingual or multilingual.

1979: Establishment of CRASH

In 1979, the LAPD launched the Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) unit to combat the rise of street gangs in Los Angeles.

1980: Demographic composition of the LAPD

In 1980, the Los Angeles Police Department was predominantly white, with 80% of the force identifying as such, and many officers living outside city limits.

1987: Operation Hammer

The LAPD executed Operation Hammer in 1987 as a significant effort to address the ongoing gang crisis in the city.

1991: Rodney King Beating

The 1991 beating of Rodney King by LAPD officers exposed systemic issues of misconduct and corruption within the department.

1992: Los Angeles Riots

The 1992 Los Angeles riots were preceded by a state trial held in Simi Valley, a suburb that served as a residence for many white LAPD officers.

1992: Period of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots

The year 1992 is historically significant as the period encompassing the Los Angeles riots, an era that became inextricably linked to the legacy of the original Parker Center police headquarters.

1993: Art Theft Detail Recovery Milestone

Since 1993, the LAPD Art Theft Detail has successfully recovered stolen works of art valued at over $121 million.

1994: Creation of NYPD CompStat

In 1994, William Bratton, serving as NYPD Police Commissioner, created the CompStat (Computer Statistics) unit to help maintain and analyze crime data.

1997: North Hollywood Shootout and Rampart Scandal

In 1997, the LAPD faced the Rampart scandal leading to the closure of CRASH, and engaged in the North Hollywood shootout, which forced nationwide police armament upgrades due to the officers being outgunned by heavily armed bank robbers; additionally, the LACMTA Police was absorbed that same year.

1998: Growth in multilingual officers

By the year 1998, the number of officers in the LAPD capable of speaking more than one language increased to 1,560.

2001: Multilingual capacity and communication study

In 2001, the LAPD employed 2,500 multilingual officers, though a study released that same year revealed significant deficiencies in how non-English-speaking callers were treated by dispatch and response personnel.

2001: Consent Decree with the DOJ

In 2001, the United States Department of Justice established a formal consent decree with the LAPD to address long-standing issues involving systemic civil rights violations and a documented lack of institutional accountability.

2002: Female representation in the LAPD

By 2002, women accounted for 18.9% of the total LAPD police force.

2002: Implementation of LAPD CompStat

Upon becoming the Chief of Police for the LAPD in 2002, William Bratton implemented a version of the CompStat system that he had previously developed for the NYPD.

January 4, 2009: Addition of Olympic and Topanga Police Areas

On January 4, 2009, the Los Angeles Police Department expanded its geographical footprint by formally adding two new police stations, known as "Olympic" and "Topanga," to its existing command structure.

October 2009: Opening of the Police Administration Building (New Parker Center)

In October 2009, the new Police Administration Building, referred to as the New Parker Center, officially opened to consolidate LAPD operations. This 500,000 square-foot LEED-certified facility replaced the original Parker Center, aiming to move past the controversial history associated with the former headquarters.

2009: Rebranding of the Explorer Program

In 2009, the LAPD transitioned its 'Explorer Program' into the 'LAPD Cadet Program' following the decision to terminate its partnership with the Boy Scouts of America due to exclusionary membership policies.

2009: Relocation of LAPD Headquarters

In 2009, the Los Angeles Police Department officially moved its headquarters from the historic Parker Center located at 150 N. Los Angeles St. to a new facility.

2010: Creation of Office of Special Operations and Counterterrorism and Special Operations Bureau

In 2010, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck established the Office of Special Operations, overseen by an Assistant Chief. Additionally, the Counterterrorism and Special Operations Bureau was formed in 2010 through the merger of the Counterterrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau and the Special Operations Bureau.

2012: Absorption of Los Angeles General Services Police

In 2012, the LAPD successfully absorbed the Los Angeles General Services Police, marking a significant structural integration of local police forces.

2013: Lifting of the Consent Decree

Following a period of major reforms intended to address systemic misconduct, the consent decree between the Department of Justice and the LAPD was officially lifted in 2013.

2014: LAPD Cadet Program and Art Theft Detail Status

In 2014, the LAPD Cadet Program reached a participation level of 5,000 cadets, while Detective Don Hrycyk was recognized for his 40-year career, including serving as a full-time art detective.

2019: LAPD Demographic Composition

In 2019, the Los Angeles Police Department reached a total of 10,008 sworn officers, consisting of 8,158 men and 1,850 women, representing a gender distribution of 81% and 19% respectively.

2019: Demolition of Parker Center

The former LAPD headquarters, known as Parker Center, was demolished in 2019 after previously serving as the department's base of operations until 2009.