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Question:

How many African Americans did the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) shoot last year?

Answer:

During 2015, LAPD had 48 officer involved shootings. The ethnicity breakdown for these shootings was 23 Hispanics, 12 African Americans, 7 White, 2 Asian/Pacific Islander, 2 others, and 2 unknowns. I want to take this time to explain to you when LAPD officers can use deadly force. Law enforcement officers are authorized to use deadly force to:

• Protect themselves or others from what is reasonably believed to be an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury; or,

• Prevent a crime where the suspect’s actions place person(s) in imminent jeopardy of death or serious bodily injury; or,

• Prevent the escape of a violent felon when there is probable cause to believe the escape will pose a significant threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or others, if apprehension is delayed. In this circumstance, officers shall avoid using deadly force that might subject innocent bystanders or hostages to possible death or injury.

Of course the goal is to de-escalate situations before they rise to the level where deadly forced is needed.

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