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The Board is hereby authorized and directed to issue to each and every regular Police Officer of this City a numbered identification card which shall bear the printed name, serial number, signature, photograph and right index fingerprint of each such Regular Police Officer. Each such card shall bear the signature of the Chief of Police, or the Chief’s duly appointed deputy, in office at the time of issuance of such identification card. Each identification card shall state thereon that the holder thereof is a police officer of this City.
Neither the Board, the Chief of Police nor any other person shall issue a Police Identification Card as provided for in this Section to any person other than a Regular Police Officer. An honorably retired police officer shall return their identification card to the Department and a new card which has the preprinted word “RETIRED” across the face of the card will be issued to the officer, provided however that possession of such card shall be a privilege only, and the card shall be surrendered to the Chief of Police upon demand. In any event, the Department shall issue to honorably retired police officers identification certificates which carry endorsement and other requirements set forth in Penal Code Section 12027(a) and the Department shall implement any review by said Penal Code section. (Amended by Ord. No. 161,876, Eff. 1/23/87.)
No person other than a Regular or Retired Police Officer shall have in their possession any Identification Card issued to, or intended to be issued to, or purporting to have been issued to a Regular or Retired Police Officer of the City of Los Angeles, provided, however, that an honorably Retired Police Officer may possess an Identification Card which has the printed word “RETIRED” across the face of said card. (Amended by Ord. No. 161,876, Eff. 1/23/87.)
No person shall print or issue or have in their possession any identification card similar to the identification card mentioned in Section 52.29 of this Code, or any identification card stating that the person whose name appears thereon is a police officer or sworn officer of this City.
(Amended by Ord. No. 172,692, Eff. 8/8/99.)
(a) Uniform Departmental Badge. “Uniform departmental Badge” shall mean a badge, to be readily distinguishable from the official police officer’s badge, of a design selected by the Purchasing Agent and approved by the Council for the use of departments of this City other than the Police Department, the Fire Department and the Office of the City Attorney.
(b) Badges Issued to Other Than Elected Officials and Members of Boards and Commissions. The provisions of this subdivision apply to the issuance of uniform departmental badges to other than elected officials and members of boards and commissions:
1. Except as authorized in the appropriate departmental personnel ordinance, no uniform departmental badge shall be issued to, or be carried, worn or displayed by any person employed by any department whose funds are under the control of the City Council. The respective boards of departments given control of their own funds by the Charter may designate the officers and employees entitled to use badges under the restrictions set forth in this subsection.
2. No uniform departmental badge shall be issued to or be used, worn or carried by any person unless the person’s duties involve the active enforcement of law, or unless the person performs other public duties which, in the judgment of the board or officer in control of the department or office are such as to require that such person wear or carry a badge for purposes of identification.
3. Uniform departmental badges shall be issued only by the managing officers of the respective departments or offices. Such badges shall be consecutively numbered in each department or office. The managing officer of each department or office shall keep records showing the number of each badge, the date of its issuance, and the name and residence address of the person to whom issued. Each badge shall remain the property of the City and must be returned to the managing officer at the conclusion of the holder’s service or upon the holder being assigned duties not requiring the use of the badge.
4. Each officer or employee to whom a badge is issued must reimburse the City for the cost thereof if the badge is lost or destroyed through that officer’s or employee’s negligence, or if the badge is not turned in to the managing officer at the termination of employment.
5. Issuance of identification disks is authorized and any City employee may, by order of the respective officers or boards in control of their departments or offices, be permitted or required while performing their duties to wear identification disks devoid of ornamentation and containing only plain stamped letters and figures calculated to identify the wearer of the wearer’s position. Such disks must be no more than two inches in diameter.
6. When the holder of any badge, the use of which is authorized under this subsection, is honorably retired, the same or another badge may be reissued to the retiree, provided there is permanently affixed thereto or engraved or embossed thereon, at the retiree’s expense, the word “RETIRED” and figures showing the retiree’s term of service. Such badge holder must reimburse the City for the cost of the badge.
(c) Badges Issued to Elected Officials and Members of Boards and Commissions. (Amended by Ord. No. 176,102, Eff. 8/23/04.) The provisions of this subsection shall apply to elected officials and to members of the Board of Police Commissioners, Board of Fire Commissioners, Board of Airport Commissioners, Board of Harbor Commissioners, and Board of Water and Power Commissioners. Members of all other boards and commissions shall not be issued badges.
1. The City Clerk shall be responsible for purchasing, issuing and record-keeping related to badges issued to elected officials and members of City boards and commissions. The City Clerk shall utilize such forms and procedures as deemed necessary and appropriate to satisfy the responsibilities assigned to that Office under this subsection.
2. The City Clerk shall issue badges to the incumbent in each of the following City offices: Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller, and Member of the City Council. When any such elected official leaves office the same or another badge may be reissued to the official, provided there is permanently affixed thereto or engraved or embossed thereon the word “RETIRED” and figures showing the official’s term of service.
3. Requests from boards or commissions for the issuance of badges shall be submitted to the City Clerk for referral to the appropriate Council Committee for review and recommendation to the full Council. Upon Council approval, the individual in question shall be issued a badge. However before the issuance of the badge, the person being issued the badge shall be required to read a document which sets forth the terms and conditions imposed on the issuance of said badge, and shall sign that document acknowledging the receipt of the badge and the reading of the terms and conditions. The terms and conditions shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
a. The badge is the property of the City of Los Angeles;
b. Upon leaving the board or commission, the badge shall be collected and forwarded to the City Clerk, who, upon request from the board or commission, shall reissue the same or another badge to the departing commissioner, provided the badge is permanently encased in plexiglass or other substance more than twice its size and from which it cannot be removed, the badge is engraved or embossed with the word “RETIRED” and figures showing the departing commissioner’s term of service, and, it conforms to any additional control measures and mechanisms to prevent misuse as instituted by the City Clerk; the recipient of such badge shall reimburse the City for the cost of the badge;
c. Loss of the badge shall be reported immediately to the City Clerk in writing, with replacement at the expense of the person to whom the badge was issued;
d. The badge may be used only during activities related to the responsibilities of the board or commission.
(d) Unauthorized Badges – City Officers and Employees. No officer or employee of this City shall wear, carry or use, within or under color of the performance of their official duties, any badge which the officer or employee is not expressly authorized to use by this Code. All unauthorized badges must be returned to the managing officers of the respective departments or offices.
(e) Persons Other Than City Officers and Employees. No person other than a City officer or employee shall wear, carry or use any badge or other insignia of office or employment in the government of this City, or any badge, identification card or insignia which is calculated to indicate that the holder is an officer or employee of this City, provided, however, that this provision shall not apply if the possession and use of such badge, card or insignia is expressly permitted by ordinance.
The port warden and special officers of the Harbor Department of the City of Los Angeles are hereby duly appointed and designated as peace officers for the purpose of carrying concealed upon their person or concealed within any vehicle which is under their control or direction any pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person while such port warden or special officers are in the City of Los Angeles and while they are engaged in the performance of the duties of their respective employments. (Added by Ord. No. 140,142, Eff. 5/15/70.)
(Amended by Ord. No. 170,143, Eff. 1/6/95.)
(a) Uniform City Attorney Badge. “Uniform City Attorney Badge” shall mean a badge, to be readily distinguished from the official police officers badge, of a design selected by the Purchasing Agent and approved by the City Attorney.
(b) Issuance Restricted. No uniform City Attorney badge shall be issued to or be used, worn or carried by any person, unless the employee’s duties involve the active enforcement of law, or unless the employee performs other public duties which, in the judgment of the City Attorney are such as to require that the employee wear or carry a badge for purposes of identification.
(c) Managing Officers – Issuance and Records of Badges. Uniform City Attorney badges shall be issued only by the City Attorney. Such badges shall be consecutively numbered. The City Attorney shall keep records showing the number of each badge, the date of its issuance, and the name and residence address of the person to whom issued. Each badge shall remain the property of the City and must be returned to the City Attorney at the conclusion of the holder’s service or upon the holder being assigned duties not requiring the use of the badge.
(d) Reimbursement Required. Each employee to whom a badge is issued must reimburse the City for the cost thereof if the badge be lost or destroyed through the employee’s negligence, or if the badge be not turned in to the City Attorney at the termination of employment.
(e) Retired Officers and Employees. When the holder of any badge, the use of which is authorized under this section, is honorably retired, the same or another badge may be reissued to the retiree, provided there be permanently affixed thereto to engraved or embossed thereon, at the holder’s expense, the word “RETIRED” and figures showing the retiree’s term of service. The retiree must reimburse the City for the cost of the badge.
(Amended by Ord. No. 173,375, Eff. 8/5/00.)
(a) Definitions.
For the purpose of this article, certain terms used herein are defined as follows:
(1) Private Patrol Service. The term “private patrol service” shall mean any “private patrol operator” as defined in the California Business and Professions Code which furnishes or purports to furnish to members, subscribers, or customers any street patrol officer for the purpose of affording additional security and protection of person and property or to perform any other service directly related to the “private protection of life and property.”
(2) Street Patrol Officer. The term “street patrol officer” shall mean any person who performs for a private patrol service the duties of a uniformed guard or uniformed patrol officer or any of the duties described in subdivision (a)(1) by street patrol service utilizing foot patrol, motor patrol, or other means of transportation in public areas, City streets, or public thoroughfares. This definition shall not apply to uniformed guards or uniformed caretakers employed by an entity other than a private patrol service, such as by industrial plants, department stores, community associations, or private clubs wherein said function does not require patrolling from one location to another by use of a City street, nor shall it apply to persons employed by such an entity solely in connection with the commercial, public, or professional business of such an entity.
(b) Private Patrol Services.
(1) Permit. It shall be unlawful to engage in the business of maintaining or operating any private patrol service in the City of Los Angeles without first obtaining a license as required by the State of California and a permit from the City.
(2) Requirements for Permits. The following requirements must be met to obtain a permit to operate, maintain and conduct a private patrol service in the City.
A. Registration. A registration form shall be filed with the Board of Police Commissioners on forms supplied by the City. The registration form shall be signed and verified by the registrant and shall state the name, address and organization of the private security service, its method of operation, the territory or location it proposes to serve, the names, addresses of its officers, members, associates and employees and a description of the procedures for investigating citizen complaints against its street patrol officers.
B. State License. The registration form for a permit shall be accompanied by a photostatic or certified copy of the private patrol service’s State of California License evidencing compliance with State laws relating to the business of private patrols.
C. Insurance. Upon request, a private patrol service shall furnish to the Board of Police Commissioners evidence of the following insurance: workers’ compensation, general liability insurance, automobile insurance in the amounts required by State law.
(c) Street Patrol Officers.
(1) Registration. It shall be unlawful for any person to perform the duties of a street patrol officer in the City of Los Angeles without first obtaining a Guard Registration card as required by the State of California and registering with the City. Upon the registration being accepted by the City, the Board of Police Commissioners may issue a permit which shall be subject to all of the provisions of Chapter 10 of this Code, including all the rights, regulations, and due process procedures contained therein. The Board of Police Commissioners shall retain street patrol officer permits in its files.
(2) Requirements for Registration. The following requirements must be met to register to perform the duties of a street patrol officer in the City.
A. Registration. A registration form shall be filed with the Board of Police Commissioners on forms supplied by the City. The registration form shall be signed and verified by the registrant and shall state the registrant’s name, address and the name and address of the private patrol service by whom the registrant is employed. The registration form shall be submitted to the Board of Police Commissioners within 15 days of the Street Patrol Officer being hired by the Private Patrol Service. Registration forms may be submitted by hand-delivery, U.S. mail or facsimile.
B. State Registration Card. The registration form for a street patrol officer permit must be accompanied by a photostatic or certified copy of the officer’s State of California Guard Registration card evidencing compliance with the State laws relating to the occupation of a street patrol officer.
(d) Uniform, Equipment, Badges, Insignia.
(1) General. Any badge, insignia, patch or uniform used or worn by any employee, officer, member or associate of a private patrol service, while on duty for said patrol service, shall be in compliance with State law. Any such badge, insignia, patch or uniform shall not be of such a design as to be mistaken for an official badge, insignia or uniform worn by a law enforcement officer of the City of Los Angeles or any other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the City.
(2) Uniforms. The Private Patrol Service shall submit to the Board of Police Commissioners a sample or color photograph of the proposed uniform for approval by the Board to ensure that it does not resemble a uniform of any law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the City. No uniform shall be worn if the sample thereof submitted to the Board has been determined to be in violation of subsection (d)(1).
(3) Equipment, Weapons, Ammunition. Street Patrol Officers are only authorized to carry .38 caliber, .45 caliber, .357 caliber and 9 millimeter firearms. The Board of Police Commissioners shall have the authority to grant an exception to this subsection upon a showing of good cause. Firearms and ammunition used by street patrol officers shall be of a brand name, model and caliber approved by the State of California. No street patrol officer shall carry any firearm in the performance of their duties unless the officer possesses a valid firearm qualification card issued by the State for said firearm. Other authorized weapons include State approved batons and chemical agents as authorized by the officer’s State permit.
(e) Motor Vehicles. Each vehicle used for the purpose of patrolling shall comply with California Vehicle Code section 25279(b) and at a minimum the letters and numerals shall be clearly visible and readable from a distance of fifty feet and shall be permanently affixed to the vehicle. A private patrol service shall not use or permit to be used for purposes of patrolling, any vehicle which is not marked and identifiable with approved markings or insignia in accordance herewith. No vehicle used by a private patrol service shall be equipped with a red light, siren, or be painted in a manner similar to a police vehicle of the City of Los Angeles or other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the City. The private patrol service shall submit to the Board of Police Commissioners a color photograph of the proposed vehicles showing compliance with this subsection.
(f) Reports to Police. Every private patrol service operator and every street patrol officer shall immediately make a report to the Police Department of any felonies, high-grade misdemeanors or violation of federal law which come to their attention. High-grade misdemeanors include Petty Theft, Dangerous Weapons’ Control Laws, Traffic Manslaughter, Indecent Exposure, Child Molesting, Contributing to the Delinquence of a Minor, Lewd Conduct, and all other misdemeanor sex offenses. The private patrol service shall also immediately notify the Police Department of any weapon discharge or private person’s arrest made within the City, by any employee, officer, member, or associate of the private patrol service.
(g) Employees. The private patrol service will be responsible for each street patrol officer to be registered with the State and to carry proof thereof at all times while on duty. A Street Patrol Officer in connection with their duties, upon request by a law enforcement officer, shall identify themself as a Street Patrol Officer and shall give their name and employer’s name. At no time shall a Street Patrol Officer conduct themself by word or manner as to lead others to believe that the Street Patrol Officer possesses the power to enforce Traffic Regulations or to issue Traffic Citations.
(h) Authority to Make Rules and Regulations. The Board of Police Commissioners shall have the authority to make rules and regulations not inconsistent with State law or this chapter concerning private patrol services and street patrol officers. Prior to any changes or additions to such Board rules and regulations, the Board of Police Commissioners shall give reasonable notice to all private patrol services registered with the City of the proposed changes or additions.
(i) Permits; Nontransferable. Permits issued under this article are not transferable. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the owner of a private patrol service from selling, assigning or transferring such service; however any new owner, transferee, or assignee shall be required to qualify under this article before commencing operations or carrying on business as a private patrol service.
(j) Suspension/Revocation. Violation of any provision of this ordinance, any of the rules promulgated by the Board of Police Commissioners, or of any State or local law in connection with the operation of a Private Patrol Service, may be cause for suspension and/or revocation of the permit held by the Private Patrol Service. The Board of Police Commissioners shall notify the Private Patrol Service of the intent to suspend or revoke the registration of any of its street patrol officers.
(k) Permits Not Exclusive. Permits required by this article shall be in addition to any license or permit required under any other chapter of this code.
(a) “Chief Detectives,” “Chief of Detective Bureau.” No person shall use the title “Chief of Detectives” or “Chief of Detective Bureau” alone or in connection with any other term, phrase, symbol, initial or language, in carrying on any private business, employment or activity.
(b) Other Police Titles. No person shall, in connection with any private business, employment or activity, use the title “Chief of Police,” “Police Chief,” “Detective” or any other title or designation whatever calculated to indicate an official connection with the Police Department of this city or with the police force of any other government or government agency, unless accompanied by additional language clearly displaying without the use of initials or symbols, the identity of the private agency or employer on whose behalf the user of the title or designation is acting or purporting to act.
(c) Police Operations. No person, other than a regular police officer of the City of Los Angeles, shall, for any purpose whatsoever, represent themself, or falsely represent another, to be a member of the Police Department of this city, or use any sign, word, language or device calculated to induce a false or mistaken belief that the person is acting or purporting to act on behalf of the Police Department of this city within the scope of any real or purported duty thereof.
(d) Collections, etc. No person other than a regular police officer of this city, acting within the scope and course of their official duties, shall use any sign, badge, title or designation, or make any express or implied representation, calculated to induce the belief that the person is a member of the police force of this city, or connected therewith in any way, in connection with any activity directed toward the collection of any money or debt, or the repossessing, recovering, or taking of anything of value, or for any purpose of private gain whatsoever.
(e) Civil Immunities. No special police officer shall, by virtue of any commission as such heretofore or hereafter issued under this chapter or pursuant to any other law or ordinance, be deemed to be an officer, agent, employee or representative of the City of Los Angeles while engaging in any activity of any character whatsoever undertaken for private hire, profit or reward, or while performing any act done in the course of the officer’s own business or affairs, or while performing any act done or undertaken in connection with or in furtherance of, any private employment, business or undertaking for which such special officer is hired or engaged, nor shall any such commission be construed to confer upon the holders any privilege or immunity not expressly granted by this code, other than the authority to arrest for crime under Sec. 836 of the Penal Code, and the right to be armed as a peace officer, subject, in both respects, to such rules and regulations of the Board of Police Commissioners as may relate to special police officers.
Any commission or appointment as special police officer which is claimed to convey, expressly or by implication, any immunity inuring to the benefit of the holder or any other person, contrary to any of the objects and purposes of this section, shall be void, and its grant or issuance shall be deemed to be in excess of the power and authority of the Board, whether heretofore or hereafter made.
(a) The statements, photographs and fingerprints hereinbefore provided for shall not be open to inspection by the public, or by any person other than a regularly employed peace or law enforcement officer. Any such photograph, or duplicates thereof, may be exhibited to persons other than peace officers of the City for the purpose of assisting in identifying perpetrators of any crime. Copies of said statements, photographs and fingerprints may be transmitted to the sheriff of any county of the State of California, to the head of any organized police department of any municipality in said state, or to the head of any department of the State of California engaging in the enforcement of any criminal law of this state, or to the head of any federal law enforcement agency, or to any sheriff or chief of police of a municipality, or to the head of any other law-enforcement agency of any state in any state or territory outside the State of California, when request is made in writing by such sheriff or other head of a law-enforcement agency asking for the record of a certain person named therein, or for the record of a person whose photograph or fingerprints reasonably correspond with Photographs or fingerprints submitted with such request, and stating that such record is deemed necessary for the use of such law enforcement officer or agency in or concerning the investigation of any crime, or any person who is accused of committing a crime, or any crime which is reported to have been committed, and further stating that the record will be used only for such purpose.
(b) Any police officer or other employee of the Police Department who discloses to any person any information contained in any statement required to be filed under the provisions of Sections 52.38 to 52.43 inclusive, otherwise than in the regular course of their duties, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(c) Nothing contained in Sections 52.38 to 52.43 inclusive, shall prevent the Chief of Police from furnishing to the sheriff of any county, the chief of police of any municipality, or the head of any other law-enforcing agency which maintains any system of registration of convicted persons copies of the statements required to be filed under the provisions of Sections 52.38 to 52.43 inclusive, together with photographs and fingerprints of persons making such statements when and if such sheriff, chief of police, or other head of a law-enforcing agency furnishes to the Chief of Police of this City copies of statements, photographs and fingerprints procured by that sheriff, chief of police, or other head of a law-enforcing agency, and it is hereby made the duty of such Chief of Police to arrange for the exchange of such information.
(d) Any police officer or employee of the Police Department may, any other provisions herein notwithstanding, furnish to persons other than peace officers, photographs, fingerprints, descriptions and other data relative to persons registered as convicted persons, as defined by Sec. 52.38(d)1 of this code, for the purpose of furnishing the information required by Sec. 41.11.2 of this code, or for the purpose of securing and effecting the enforcement of said section; and the furnishing of such information, pictures or fingerprints shall be within the regular course of the officer’s or employee’s duties.
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