Metropolitan Division, commonly referred to as Metro Division or just Metro, is an elite division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) under its Special Operations Group. Metropolitan Division is responsible for managing the LAPD's specialized crime suppression, K-9, mounted, and SWAT units, named "platoons".
Metropolitan Division is responsible for numerous duties including solving major crimes, search warrant service, dignitary protection, surveillance, counterterrorism, riot control, and resolving high-risk standoffs.
History
The Metropolitan Division originated from the Reserve Unit, which on April 16, 1933 was combined with the Vag Squad, Intelligence Bureau, and several details from the Chief's Office to form the division.
In 1968, the division increased from 70 officers to approximately 200 officers. In 1997, the number of officers was increased to approximately 350 sworn officers and 16 civilian officers.
On April 14, 2015, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced during the 2015 State of the City address that he would add more than 200 officers to division in an effort to control the crime rate which dramatically increased the year previously. This included a vehicle stop strategy being implemented by Chief Charlie Beck to address a spike in shootings in South Los Angeles In 2016, the number of sworn officers in the division increased to 486. In 2019, the number of sworn officers was reduced to 392.
The Reserve Unit was originally based out of Room 114 at Parker Center, the LAPD's former headquarters. The designation "114" is used today to refer to the Metropolitan Division headquarters. In 2016, Metropolitan Division relocated from LAPD Central Division in Downtown to the newly renovated former Rampart Division station that had been vacant since 2008.
Objectives
Assignments include: counterterrorism providing assistance to major crimes investigators responding to high-risk barricaded situations stakeouts security details serving warrants uniformed crime suppression details (crowd control)
Organization
There are two field platoons (B and C), three specialized platoons (D, E, K9, H and M) supervised by a Lieutenant II. The "M" Platoon performs the administrative and support functions. "B" and "C" 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, "H" Platoon (Headquarters) and the Underwater Dive Unit (UDU) make up the remainder of the Division. Metropolitan Division also maintains a doctor, crisis negotiators, and other specialists in weaponry, computer science, and audio-visual technology. Platoon units are assigned individual radio designations that commence with "R" that can be traced to the division's origins from the Reserve Unit.
B and C Platoons (Tactical Response Teams)
B and C Platoons are primarily responsible for carrying out 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 at the suppression of burglary, robbery, auto theft, and burglary/theft from motor vehicles. More recently, efforts have been aimed at attacking violent repressible crime.
D Platoon (SWAT)
D Platoon is the LAPD's police tactical unit. It provides the LAPD 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. SWAT currently operates the Lenco B.E.A.R., BearCat, and MedCat armored rescue vehicles. The current Officer-in-Charge is Lieutenant II Ruben Lopez. The current Assistant Officer-in-Charge is Lieutenant II Lee McMillion.
Between 1972 and 2005, SWAT had 3371 activations of those 3196 were tactical incidents with 174 involving hostages and 31 resulted in suspects being killed by SWAT.
E Platoon (Mounted Unit)
E Platoon serves as both the LAPD's mounted police unit and the reserve unit of the Special Operations Bureau.
K-9 Platoon
K-9 Platoon, or the Canine Platoon, deploys highly trained dog handlers and their police dogs. Two K-9 officers have also been trained in search and rescue operations using dogs. The department first introduced dogs in April 1980 when it commenced a one year pilot program with two dogs which was after two months declared a success.