Some 'less-lethal' rounds are barred in crowd control

A federal judge finds Los Angeles police violated prior restrictions on projectiles, prompting an immediate departmentwide moratorium

- BY LIBOR JANY

THE SCENE at a "No Kings Day" protest in June. Black Lives Matter says officers flouted an injunction.

(CARLIN STIEHL Los Angeles Times)

A federal judge banned Los Angeles Police Department officers from using some so-called less-lethal launchers at protests, after finding that the department violated previous court restrictions by using such projectile weapons to disperse crowds at last summer's mass demonstrations against immigration enforcement.

In her ruling Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall sided with a contempt motion filed by attorneys for Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles.

That same day LAPD officials sent a department-wide memo announcing an immediate moratorium on the use of the 40-millimeter weapons in light of Marshall’s ruling. The memo advised those seeking further clarity to contact the department’s risk management and legal affairs division.

“Accordingly, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY the 40mm SHALL NOT be used during any CROWD CONTROL situation,” said the memo, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times.