(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.