The LAPD is more diverse, but policing disparities remain

LAPD Hollenbeck Division Officers Joe Chacon, right, and Dan Rios, who both grew up in the neighborhood, talk with a homeless man while on patrol in February.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Francisco McClure remembers the days when LAPD officers would round up young black men in Jefferson Park and detain them over the weekend to keep down violence.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Mac Shorty was once a young man furious about the LAPD’s treatment of the black community. Today, the Watts Neighborhood Council member is on a first-name basis with several police captains.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

LAPD officer recruits file in for graduation exercises at the agency’s downtown headquarters in February. The once-predominantly white force is now majority non-white.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

An LAPD officer tosses joins his classmates in tossing hats into the air after their graduation in February. Though the force is nearly as diverse as the city, disparities in enforcement remain.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Hollenbeck Division Officers Dan Rios, right, and Joe Chacon visit with market owner Soo Rah, far left, while on patrol in Los Angeles. The pair is two of nearly 50 officers now patrolling areas where they grew up.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Sgt. Jim Baker, who works in the LAPD’s Special Events Unit monitoring downtown demonstrations and protests, is trying to break the distrust of police in Latino and black communities.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

An LAPD officer recruit class stands for inspection during graduation exercises in February.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Command staff recently underwent eight hours of “implicit bias training” to recognize the subconscious prejudices they might hold. Above, LAPD officer recruits.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A 2009 Harvard University study found 83% of residents believed the LAPD was doing a good or excellent job. Still, the study found pockets of distrust in Latino and black communities.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)