LAPD Restricted: Judge Limits Use of ‘Less-Lethal’ Weapons at Protests

LAPD Halts Use of 40-Millimeter Projectile Launchers After Contempt Ruling

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has temporarily ⁤stopped using 40-millimeter projectile launchers during crowd control situations ⁢following a contempt motion filed by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles (BLM-LA). The ruling, issued by Judge James R. Marshall, found the LAPD in contempt of court for allegedly violating previous ‍restrictions on the weapon’s use.

Background of the Legal⁤ Challenge

The legal battle over the use of 40-millimeter launchers dates back‌ to 2020, when BLM-LA and other groups filed a lawsuit alleging excessive force during protests following the murder of George Floyd.⁤ A preliminary injunction issued in 2021 placed restrictions ‍on the weapons’ use, requiring specialized training for officers, a warning before deployment, and limiting ‌their use to situations where an officer reasonably believes ⁣a suspect is violently resisting arrest or poses an immediate ⁣threat of violence.

The 40-millimeter launcher fires⁤ projectiles roughly the size ‍of a mini soda can at speeds exceeding 2