The Los Angeles Police Department is one of the more well-known police forces in America. Due to serving one of its major cities, their storied history (especially issues with minority communities and their frequent conflicts with inner-city criminal gangs), and proximity to Hollywood, the LAPD has been featured extensively in American pop culture in both straightforward incarnation to satire, from Grand Theft Auto to The Terminator to The Closer.
The department is headed by a Chief and operates within the jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles. Although not the first police department in the United States to have a S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics) unit, the establishment of it in 1967 by John Nelson and expansion under the leadership of the controversial Daryl Gates would solidify the unit into public consciousness.
The department tasked with upholding the law, traffic control, prevention and response to crime, and providing community services. The LAPD is organized into 39 divisions and 10 bureaus to address different aspects of law enforcement.
