Internal documents reveal that the Los Angeles Police Department has stringent guidelines regarding the use of “non-lethal” weapons, placing officers under considerable limitations and scrutiny when they decide to deploy these tools.
The regulations explicitly restrict the use of such weapons, prohibiting their application against most nonviolent individuals and necessitating formal reviews if officers stray from the established protocols.
According to departmental policy, officers may only deploy 40mm “less-lethal” projectiles when there is an immediate threat to either public safety or the safety of the officer involved, or when inaction could lead to a life-threatening scenario.
The September 2023 directive details that this type of weapon is not to be viewed as a means of punishment.
Officers are expressly barred from using these weapons against unarmed civilians who are merely passively resisting or following orders. The directive makes it clear that verbal threats alone do not justify the use of force.
There are also specific targeting restrictions; shooting at vulnerable areas such as the head, face, eyes, neck, spine, groin, and kidneys is typically not allowed unless deadly force is warranted. Officers should aim for the torso, particularly the belly button or beltline, and reassess after each shot. If no effect is achieved, the weapon should be discarded.
The policy also emphasizes protecting specific groups, discouraging the use of firing devices on children, pregnant women, the elderly, as well as in potentially hazardous situations like moving vehicles. During crowd control, officers must target specific individuals rather than aiming at groups.
Before using the projectile, officers are required to issue a clear warning to the suspect. They need to inform that the device can cause injury. If they fail to provide this warning, they must later justify their decision, as vague reasons like “officer safety” won’t suffice.
Every discharge is considered a reportable use of force, and individuals struck must receive medical attention prior to their arrest.
While the policy does not impose automatic disciplinary actions such as suspension, it mandates thorough documentation and justification for any deviations from the prescribed tactics, with officers held accountable to the LAPD’s standards for what is deemed “objectively reasonable.”
All use of launchers is subject to supervisory oversight, and officers witnessing excessive force are obligated to intervene and report the incident.
This directive may also lead to administrative inquiries, internal discipline, or legal consequences under various use-of-force regulations at both the departmental and federal levels. An internal warning attached to the policy underlines the potential risks: even in chaotic scenarios, officers are expected to adhere to their training and should be prepared to justify their actions.
