LAPD Metropolitan Division

The Metropolitan Division, also known as METRO, is an elite division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Metropolitan Division, which also contains LAPD's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, contains line platoons of specially trained police officers. It is tasked with numerous crime-fighting duties including solving major crimes, search warrant service, dignitary protection, surveillance, providing counter-terrorism details and attending high-risk barricaded situations, such as a hostage situation.

## History

Metro Division developed from a compact, mobile crime-fighting team formed by Chief James E. Davis in 1933. Named the Reserve Unit, it was formed to work throughout Los Angeles to specifically suppress criminal activity. By 1968 the unit was expanded from 70 officers to approximately 200 officers. In 1997, following the North Hollywood bank robbery, numbers were increased to approximately 350 sworn officers and 16 civilian support personnel.

The Reserve Unit was originally based out of Room 114 at Parker Center, the LAPD's headquarters. The code number 114 (pronounced "one-one-four") is used today to refer to the Metropolitan Division and its headquarters. Metropolitan Division headquarters, which previously shared space with LAPD Central Division in downtown Los Angeles, moved to the former LAPD Rampart Division station in 2016. The old Rampart building had been empty since 2008, when Rampart Division staff moved to new facilities. The former Rampart division station was renovated for use by Metro Division.

## Objectives

The Metropolitan Division's primary responsibility (other than SWAT) is to provide support to the LAPD's community-based policing efforts by deploying additional crime suppression resources throughout Los Angeles when needed. Assignments of both SWAT and Metro Division as a whole include:

* Counter-terrorism
* Providing assistance to investigators in solving major crimes
* Responding to high-risk barricaded situations
* Stakeouts
* Security details
* Serving warrants
* Uniformed crime suppression details (crowd control)

## Organization

There are four field platoons (A, B, C, and G), three specialized platoons (D, E and K9) supervised by a Lieutenant II. The Operations Platoon performs the administrative and support functions. "A", "B”, "C" and “G” Platoons are primarily responsible for crime suppression. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), “D” Platoon personnel, respond to emergency situations involving barricaded suspects or hostages. “E” Platoon (Mounted Unit), “K-9” Platoon and the Underwater Dive Unit (UDU) make up the remainder of the Division. The Division also maintains a doctor, crisis negotiators and other specialists in weaponry, computer science, and audio-visual technology.

### A, B, C & G Platoons (Tactical Response Teams/Line Platoons)

A, B, C and G Platoons are primarily responsible for carrying out the crime suppression missions. Their most active function is maintaining selective enforcement details in high frequency crime areas and targeting repeat offenders and criminal predators. Particular efforts are directed to the suppression of burglary, robbery, auto theft, and burglary/theft from motor vehicle. More recently, efforts have been aimed at attacking violent repressible crime.

### D Platoon (SWAT)

D Platoon is the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the LAPD. It provides the Department with 24-hour coverage necessary for immediate response to barricaded suspects, snipers, crisis and hostage negotiations, potential suicide-related situations, and other high-risk incidents. Rapid deployment, surprise attacks, extensive tactics training and thorough planning are all parts of successful SWAT operations. SWAT currently operates the Lenco B.E.A.R. and two smaller Lenco BearCat vehicles and one MedCat armored rescue vehicle. The current platoon leader is Lieutenant Joshua Bennett.

### E Platoon (Mounted Unit)

E Platoon serves as both the LAPD's mounted police unit and the reserve unit of the Special Operations Bureau. The "E" platoon began as a volunteer/reserve officer program and was formally integrated into the Department in 1988. The platoon currently has 32 horses and is located in a state-of-the-art Ahmanson Equestrian Facility. Officers and their horses deploy on City streets or during special events and add to the Department's professional image. Beyond that, the Mounted Platoon performs crime suppression duties and responds to crowd control incidents.

### Canine (K-9) Platoon

Canine Platoon, or "K-9" Platoon deploys highly trained dog handlers and their canine partners to conduct searches and apprehend felony suspects throughout the Los Angeles area. K-9 personnel are deployed around-the-clock, seven days a week. They are available to assist any LAPD division with searches for felony suspects. Two K-9 officers have also been trained in search and rescue operations using dogs. The current platoon leader is Lieutenant Edison Porter.

In 1990, the Liberty Award was created for police dogs who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. The medal, which is named after Liberty, a Metropolitan Division K-9 who was shot and killed in the line of duty, has only been awarded once in its history. Liberty's handler, John Hall, received the Medal of Valor for the same incident.

### Underwater Dive Unit (UDU)

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Underwater Dive Unit (UDU) has been in operation since 1957. It was originally assigned to the Criminal Conspiracy section, but in 1990 it was reassigned to Air Support Division. Again in 2000, it was reassigned to the Uniformed Support Division. In 2006, the UDU was moved to Metropolitan Division to increase the unit’s logistical support. Department divers have participated in hundreds of recovery operations in its history and are responsible for the investigation of numerous underwater crime scenes, as well as homeland security sweeps and searches. Divers have recovered significant amounts of stolen property, weapons used in crimes, aircraft, and bodies from various underwater locations throughout the city of Los Angeles.