The Inspector General's Office released findings from a 2023 audit of Los Angeles Police Department traffic stops, identifying violations in searches, camera usage, and documentation across a sample of 300 stops.
The audit was conducted to assess compliance with LAPD policies that govern traffic stops. Reviewers from the Inspector General's Office worked with the department's gang unit while examining the selected encounters.
The report notes that in several of the examined stops officers performed searches that did not meet policy criteria, failed to activate required body‑ or dash‑camera recordings, and omitted required information in stop documentation. Each of these shortcomings was recorded as a violation of established procedures.
LAPD policy requires that any search be justified by specific circumstances, that cameras remain on for the duration of the stop, and that a complete written record be entered for each encounter. The Inspector General's review measured each stop against these standards.
Among the 300 traffic stops reviewed, the findings indicate a pattern of non‑compliance in the three areas of search justification, camera activation, and documentation. While the report does not break down the exact number of stops affected in each category, the presence of violations was sufficient to warrant a formal determination.
The Inspector General's Office will provide the findings to LAPD leadership, and the department is expected to take corrective action. Potential responses may include adjustments to training, supervision, or oversight mechanisms to ensure future adherence to policy.
The release of these findings adds to ongoing oversight of policing practices in Los Angeles, reinforcing the importance of following established procedures during routine traffic encounters.