This section contains information on deputy demographics and departmental initiatives related to equitable policing practices that was provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Long Beach, CA 2024
DEPARTMENTAL CONTEXT
Findings should be interpreted alongside context about the demographics of local residents, the demographics of sworn officers, and the department’s work toward racial equity.
RESIDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
The population of Long Beach is 42% Latinx, 28% White, 13% Asian, 12% Black, 2.7% Multiple Racial Groups, 0.8% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.3% Native, and 0.2% Other. The total population of Long Beach is 468,883.
ABOUT THIS ASSESSMENT
Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) joined CPE’s National Justice Database project in November 2019. LBPD shared data with CPE in order to receive analyses intended to support community and law enforcement collaboration on data-informed efforts to enhance equity in public safety. This assessment analyzes use of force, traffic stop, non-traffic stop, and calls for service and officer-initiated activity data from 2019-2021.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY OF ITS KEY INITIATIVES
LBPD has recently updated its policies on use of force, stops, data collection, and racial profiling. In addition, LBPD has implemented new training programs, programs to elicit community input on department policies/practices, programs to reduce use of force, and programs to promote equity or community trust. LBPD has advised their local Health Department in the implementation of a Community Crisis Response Team – a team of social workers and healthcare professionals that assist in nonemergency calls for service involving individuals suffering mental health crises.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY OF ITS RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVES
After the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, the City of Long Beach brought community members together to reflect on race and reconciliation in the community. LBPD was one of several city departments that participated in these efforts. This work culminated in the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative Initial Report. As a part of that effort, LBPD committed to a series of changes to help bridge the gap between LBPD and the community.
In 2023, LBPD conducted the largest update to its use of force policy in its history. LBPD solicited community feedback on the policy and incorporated their recommendations into its policy. This policy was originally published in April 2023 and updated in October 2023. The notable policy changes include the following:
- Expanded policy surrounding the duty to intervene and report the inappropriate or unlawful behavior of another person
- Expanded policy surrounding de-escalation
- Expanded policy on verbal warnings to consider language barriers and, when feasible, requesting an officer who speaks the language
- Expanded policy on considerations when using force on vulnerable populations
- Restricting the ability to shoot at or from moving vehicles
- Requiring additional documentation of any employee’s attempt at physical control that does not result in injury or ongoing complaint of pain
The Department enacted its first fair and bias-free policing policy in March 2021 and launched its Early Intervention Program in 2022. The fair and bias-free policing policy explicitly states that biased policing and racial profiling are prohibited both in the enforcement of the law and the delivery of police services. The early intervention program is designed to assist supervisors with early recognition of employees who have been involved in a higher-than-average number of performance indicators as compared to other members of the employees’ peer group. Identifying those employees will allow supervisors to conduct a detailed review of the employees’ actions to see if any performance trends exist that should be modified and improved.
LBPD has also led alternative response model development. This past summer, the LBPD Community Service Assistant Program launched, providing civilian response to traffic incidents, report writing calls for service, and other calls for service not requiring police officer assistance. Further, the Department has acted as one of the agency advisors to the Health Department in its efforts to launch a Community Crisis Response Team—a team of social workers and healthcare professionals that assist in non-emergency calls for service involving individuals suffering mental health crises. This work was also grounded in the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Report.
LBPD has not concluded its efforts to improve its operations and increase trust with the community. As of 2024, the Department is planning its deployment of the Racial Equity Training 101 course in partnership with the Long Beach City Office of Equity. This training educates all employees on the historical inequalities and present-day impacts of institutional racism and implicit bias. LBPD also updated its Racial Identity and Profiling Act Special Order in April 2024.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY OF ITS COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES
LBPD is committed to maintaining open lines of communication with the community. From patrol division community meetings to special events, LBPD routinely updates the community on recent programs and policies. The Communications Division amplifies communication and transparency through interactive social media outreach and LBPD’s website.
In addition, Chief Hebeish created the new Community Services Bureau, which is responsible for community engagement and alternative models of policing. To this end, the bureau launched the new Neighborhood Safety Bike Team in spring 2023 to bridge the gap between the community and police by creating new engagement opportunities for the community to contribute to and shape its public safety.
LBPD is committed to incorporating community voice into its policy updating processes. That’s why they founded the Community Advisory Committee in 2021, a committee of Long Beach community members that provide input and feedback on community-facing policies, such as use of force, vehicular pursuit, and facial recognition. LBPD shares policy updates with the committee, including which recommendations were enacted and why some were not.
Finally, LBPD partnered with the RAND Corporation to host community-policing dialogues where police officers and community members discuss difficult topics in a safe space to achieve greater mutual understanding. Together, these efforts demonstrate a continual conversation between LBPD and the community on new departmental programs and policies.
REDESIGNING PUBLIC SAFETY IN LONG BEACH
Long Beach Police Department has launched several alternative response models including the Police Department Community Service Assistant Program which provides civilian response to traffic incidents, report writing for specified crimes, and responses to non-violent calls for service that do not require police officer expertise. The City of Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services implemented a community crisis response team with input from the Department. This team of mental health and healthcare professionals assist in non-emergency calls for service involving individuals experiencing mental health crises.