Los Angeles Police Department Policy Manual

The Los Angeles Police Department manual outlines standards for patrol operations, supervision, investigations, use of force, professional conduct, complaints, and administrative procedures in a large, diverse city. The public manual reflects how LAPD structures expectations for both line officers and supervisors.

Promotion candidates at major agencies like LAPD generally benefit from starting with the structure of the manual: how chapters are organized, where key topics live, and which sections supervisors rely on most. Study time is often concentrated on use of force, pursuits, supervision and discipline, complaint handling, bias-free policing, domestic incidents, mental health calls, and critical incident response. A practical strategy is to build a repeatable reading cycle around those core topics, then layer in more specialized sections relevant to the candidate’s current or desired assignment.

High-value LAPD policy topics for promotion-focused study typically include:
- Use of force, reporting, and review processes
- Pursuit and emergency vehicle operation standards
- Supervision responsibilities and span of control
- Complaints, internal investigations, and discipline
- Bias-free policing and community interactions
- Domestic violence, juvenile contacts, and vulnerable persons
- Tactical decision-making, incident command, and after-action expectations
Supervisors are usually expected to connect these policies to both day-to-day calls and high-profile, high-risk incidents.

Officers preparing for LAPD promotion exams often:
- Create brief outlines or one-page summaries for each major policy topic
- Pair policy reading with scenario drills, asking: “What must I do as the supervisor in this situation?”
- Note where policies require specific notifications, documentation, or supervisor responses
- Track updated orders or interim directives that may modify existing sections.
Because modern exams can mix written questions with scenario or oral components, it helps to practice explaining policy decisions out loud as if speaking to a board or explaining actions after a critical incident.