Ask any kid on the West Coast what an LAPD M16 rifle looks like in the trunk of a black-and-white and you'll get a pretty quick answer — they've seen it on TV a hundred times. But the real story of LAPD equipment is a lot wider than a single rifle. From the Glock on every officer's hip to the AS350 Astar helicopters humming over the 405 at 3 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department fields one of the largest, most diverse, and most expensive law-enforcement equipment inventories anywhere in the country.
This guide breaks it all down. Duty belts. Sidearms. Long guns. Body armor. Patrol cars. Motorcycles. The famous helicopter fleet. And the specialty gear used by SWAT, K9, the Bomb Squad, and Metropolitan Division. Whether you're prepping for the Los Angeles Police Department hiring process, writing a script, or just curious about what's actually in that black Crown Vic — sorry, Explorer — this is the rundown.
One quick note before we dive in. LAPD policy on equipment changes. Models get upgraded, contracts get rebid, and individual officers sometimes purchase approved alternatives out of pocket. What you read here reflects the standard issue as it stands today, with notes where things are in flux. If you're studying for an exam, focus on the categories more than the exact model numbers. Examiners want to know you understand the role of the equipment, not whether you can recite the latest contract.
Start with the most personal piece of LAPD equipment — the duty belt. Every officer in uniform wears one. By the time it's fully loaded, it can weigh 20 to 25 pounds. Officers joke that it's the reason chiropractors in Los Angeles never go hungry.
Standard items on an LAPD duty belt include the sidearm in a Level III retention holster, two spare magazines in a double-mag pouch, a set of double-locking handcuffs in a leather case, an ASP collapsible baton, a Taser, a canister of OC spray (pepper spray), a tactical flashlight, the Motorola APX 6000 portable radio in a swivel holder, the Axon Body 3 body-worn camera (sometimes mounted on the vest carrier instead), and a multitool or knife. Officers add personal items — gloves, a window punch, a tourniquet — based on assignment.
The belt itself is black leather or basketweave nylon, depending on the officer's preference and what's currently authorized. It fastens with hidden velcro under the buckle and is secured to the trouser belt with four belt keepers, which keep the duty belt from rotating during a foot pursuit or a fight. Small details, but they matter when you're sprinting after a suspect in the alleys of Westlake.
Since the early 2000s the standard-issue LAPD sidearm has been the Glock 17 Gen 5 in 9mm. It replaced the Beretta 92F (military M9), which had been the duty pistol through the 1990s. The Glock 17 holds 17 rounds in the magazine plus one in the chamber, and officers carry two spare 17-round magazines on the duty belt. That's a total of 52 rounds before reload.
Why the switch to Glock? Three reasons. The polymer frame is lighter than the all-metal Beretta. The trigger system is consistent shot to shot — no double-action-then-single-action transition. And maintenance is dead simple. A trained officer can field-strip a Glock 17 in under 30 seconds without tools. That matters when you're cleaning weapons after a long shift at 5 a.m.
LAPD policy also approves the Glock 19 Gen 5 (compact, 15-round magazine, popular with detectives and plainclothes officers) and the Glock 22 in .40 S&W for officers who qualified on that platform before the agency-wide 9mm switch. Some senior officers and detectives still carry the Beretta 92F or M9 as a personally-owned approved sidearm. You'll occasionally see a Sig Sauer P226 or P229 in the same role.
Backup guns are allowed off the duty belt — usually in an ankle holster. Backup weapons must be approved by the department and qualified annually.
Now the part everyone wants to read about — long guns. LAPD patrol vehicles carry shoulder weapons in a locked rack between the front seats, accessible only by the officer with the proper key or electronic release. Not every black-and-white has a rifle, but a substantial number do, especially in higher-risk divisions.
The Colt M16A2 and the shorter Colt M4 carbine are the standard select-fire rifles for patrol use. Both fire the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge from 30-round magazines, and both are equipped with collapsible stocks, fixed iron sights, and on most units an Aimpoint or EOTech red-dot optic. These rifles are issued primarily to officers who've completed the department's patrol rifle school — a multi-week qualification course covering marksmanship, tactical movement, and use-of-force law.
For longer-range and select missions, LAPD also fields the Ruger Mini-14, a semi-automatic carbine that's been part of the inventory for decades. It's lighter than the M16, fires the same 5.56mm round, and is favored by some Air Support and specialized patrol units. The Mini-14 is becoming less common as M4 carbines replace older inventory, but you'll still see them in active service.
The Remington 870 12-gauge pump-action shotgun is the workhorse for short-range engagements and less-lethal options. Most patrol cars carry an 870 loaded with either 00 buckshot or, increasingly, less-lethal beanbag rounds. Officers typically rack one shotgun-equipped car per beat. The 870 has been in LAPD service for over 40 years and shows no sign of being replaced. Reliability is the reason.
LAPD's Metropolitan Division — which contains the famous SWAT platoons — is where the equipment list gets serious. These are full-time tactical officers responding to barricaded suspects, hostage situations, high-risk warrant service, and dignitary protection. Their gear inventory looks more like a small infantry unit than a patrol division.
SWAT operators carry HK MP5 submachine guns in 9mm for close-quarters work, alongside HK416 rifles and full-auto M4 variants for longer engagements. Designated marksmen field bolt-action precision rifles — typically the Remington 700 or Accuracy International AX chambered in .308 Winchester or .300 Winchester Magnum. The famous footage of LAPD snipers on rooftops during major incidents shows these systems in action.
Less obvious but equally important: breaching tools. SWAT teams carry hydraulic spreaders (think jaws-of-life but designed for doors), ballistic shields rated for rifle rounds, Halligan tools, breaching shotguns loaded with frangible slugs, and small explosive breaching charges. Night-vision goggles — typically PVS-14 monoculars — and thermal imaging devices are standard for nighttime operations.
Communication and command gear includes the same Motorola APX 6000 radios used by patrol, but with additional tactical channels, encrypted modes, and team-level inter-operability hardware. SWAT also fields BearCat armored personnel carriers built by Lenco — boxy, V-hull armored trucks that can withstand rifle rounds and provide mobile cover during long stand-offs.
Every uniformed LAPD officer wears body armor on patrol. The standard-issue vest is NIJ Level II or Level IIIA soft armor — capable of stopping most handgun rounds up to and including .44 Magnum. Level IIIA is increasingly the floor. The department issues the vest, and wearing it is mandatory on every patrol shift. Supervisors check.
For high-risk assignments, officers can be issued exterior plate carriers loaded with NIJ Level IV ceramic or steel plates. Level IV rated armor stops rifle rounds up to and including .30-06 AP. SWAT operators wear Level IV plates as a matter of course. Patrol officers responding to active-shooter calls now have access to plate carriers stored in supervisor vehicles — a direct lesson from the 1997 North Hollywood shootout, when LAPD officers found themselves outgunned by suspects in full body armor.
The shift toward exterior carriers — vests worn over the uniform blouse rather than under it — has been welcome among many officers. Exterior carriers distribute the weight of gear across the torso instead of dragging it all on the duty belt. Many officers now mount their handcuffs, spare magazines, radio, and even the body camera on the vest, which has measurably reduced chronic back issues across the department.
The 1997 North Hollywood bank shootout — when two heavily armed and armored suspects engaged responding LAPD officers with full-auto rifles for over 44 minutes — directly led to the department's decision to equip patrol units with M16 and M4 carbines and provide patrol-level access to rifle-rated armor. Before that February morning, only SWAT carried long guns and officers responding to the bank had only sidearms and shotguns. They were outgunned from the first contact. After the incident, patrol rifle programs became standard not just at LAPD but at agencies across the United States. Today every patrol officer who completes the department's rifle qualification course is authorized to deploy an M16 or M4 from the vehicle rack — a direct policy lesson written in lessons learned that morning.
The classic LAPD black-and-white isn't a Crown Victoria anymore. Ford stopped making the Crown Vic Police Interceptor in 2011, and the department transitioned through several replacement models before settling on its current fleet. Today the workhorse patrol unit is the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility, often equipped with the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 producing about 400 horsepower. It's an SUV, taller than the old Crown Vics, which gives officers better visibility and more cargo space for gear.
Running alongside the Explorers is the Dodge Charger Pursuit, a rear-wheel-drive sedan that's a favorite for highway and freeway-heavy assignments. The Charger's 5.7L Hemi V8 produces 370 horsepower and gives officers the straight-line speed needed for pursuits on the 405 or the 101. Some Chargers are equipped with all-wheel drive for officers in the Valley who occasionally need traction on wet canyon roads.
For unmarked and detective use, LAPD also fields Ford Mustangs (the Mustang GT Police Package was a thing for years), Chevrolet Tahoes for supervisor units that need to carry more gear, and a variety of less-marked sedans for plainclothes work.
Then there are the motorcycles. The BMW R1250RT is the current standard for the Traffic Division's motor officers — that's the bike you see flanking the President's motorcade or working radar enforcement on Mulholland. The R1250RT replaced earlier Kawasaki Concours and BMW R1200RT models. It's a 1,254cc twin producing about 136 horsepower, with anti-lock brakes, traction control, and the heated grips every motor officer suddenly appreciates at 4 a.m. in January.
Current primary patrol unit. SUV platform with the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 producing about 400 horsepower. Increased visibility, more cargo space for gear, and improved all-weather capability over the old Crown Vic sedan it replaced across the LAPD fleet.
Highway-focused patrol sedan with the 5.7L Hemi V8 producing 370 horsepower. Favored for freeway and pursuit-heavy assignments on the 405, 101, and 110. Some Chargers in the fleet are equipped with all-wheel drive for canyon and Valley assignments where traction matters.
Standard Traffic Division motorcycle for LAPD motor officers. A 1,254cc twin producing about 136 horsepower with ABS, traction control, and heated grips. Used for radar enforcement, dignitary motorcades, and the famous LAPD motor escorts you see in the city.
Metropolitan Division SWAT armored personnel carrier. V-hull design rated to stop rifle rounds up to .50 caliber depending on the build. Used as mobile cover during long stand-offs, hostage rescues, and high-risk warrant service across the city.
You can hear it before you see it. The thump of an LAPD helicopter circling Hollywood at 2 a.m. is a sound that any longtime Angeleno knows by heart. The Air Support Division (ASD) is the largest municipal police aviation unit in the United States, operating around 17 aircraft and flying about 18,000 hours per year.
The workhorse of the fleet is the Airbus AS350B2 A-Star, a single-engine light helicopter ideal for urban patrol. The A-Star is fast — top cruise around 130 knots — and equipped with FLIR thermal imaging cameras, NightSun searchlights putting out 30 million candlepower, a public-address speaker system, and a moving-map display tied into CAD (computer-aided dispatch). Some A-Stars carry the LoJack receiver for tracking stolen vehicles.
Older but still in service are Bell 206 JetRanger and Bell 206L LongRanger helicopters — single-engine light helicopters that were the backbone of the fleet through the 1980s and 1990s. The Bell 206s are gradually being retired as A-Stars and newer Airbus aircraft come online.
The Air Support Division also operates a small number of larger Airbus H125 (an updated A-Star variant) and Bell 412 twin-engine helicopters for SWAT insertion and longer-range missions. The Bell 412 can carry a full tactical team plus gear and is the platform of choice for rapid SWAT response across LA's sprawling jurisdiction.
Each helicopter carries a pilot and a tactical flight officer. The tactical officer runs the cameras, lights, radio communications with ground units, and the moving map. ASD aircraft are credited with assisting in tens of thousands of arrests per year and providing eyes-on for ground units in pursuits, foot chases, and tactical operations across the city's 470 square miles.
The workhorse of the LAPD fleet. Single-engine light helicopter manufactured by Airbus, ideal for tight urban patrol over dense neighborhoods like Hollywood and downtown. Equipped with FLIR thermal imaging cameras, a 30-million-candlepower NightSun searchlight, public-address speakers for ground communication, a CAD-linked moving map tied into dispatch, and on some airframes a LoJack receiver for stolen-vehicle tracking. Cruises around 130 knots with a service ceiling that easily clears LA's surrounding mountains. Crewed by a pilot and a tactical flight officer who runs the cameras, lights, and ground-coordination radio.
Older single-engine light helicopter that served as the backbone of the LAPD fleet through the 1980s and 1990s. The longer Bell 206L LongRanger variant is also in service. Being gradually retired as newer Airbus airframes come online, but several Bell 206s still fly patrol missions today. The 206 platform is famous for reliability and forgiving handling characteristics, which is why so many LAPD pilots cut their flying teeth on it before transitioning to the A-Star.
Twin-engine medium helicopter used primarily for SWAT insertions, longer-range missions across LA County, and operations where lift capacity matters more than nimbleness. The 412 carries a full tactical team plus breaching gear, ladders, ropes, and rifles. The twin-engine layout adds a safety margin that's important when carrying SWAT operators over urban terrain or during night insertions. LAPD operates a small number of these aircraft alongside the larger fleet of single-engine A-Stars.
The H125 is an updated AS350 A-Star variant with improved avionics, more powerful engine, and refined cockpit ergonomics. Used for general patrol and specialized assignments alongside the older B2 model that still makes up the bulk of the fleet. As older AS350B2 airframes age out, H125s and similar updated Airbus light helicopters will continue to replace them in the LAPD inventory.
LAPD fields a long list of specialty units, and each one has gear specific to its mission.
The K9 Platoon — part of Metropolitan Division — uses Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd dogs trained for patrol, narcotics detection, explosives detection, and tracking. Handlers wear standard uniforms with additional bite-protective sleeves during training, carry specialized leashes and harnesses, and operate from K9-modified Ford Explorers with reinforced rear compartments, ventilation systems, and emergency temperature alarms. A K9 vehicle has a "hot dog" alert that pages the handler if the rear compartment exceeds a safe temperature.
The Bomb Squad — officially the Hazardous Devices Section — operates from a fleet of specialized response trucks carrying robots (the F6A and PackBot are the workhorses), bomb suits weighing 80 pounds and rated for significant overpressure, X-ray equipment for examining suspicious packages, water-disruptor charges, and total-containment vessels for transporting devices that can't be rendered safe in place.
The Mounted Unit — yes, LAPD still has horses — patrols Griffith Park, parts of the downtown core, and major events. Officers wear modified uniforms with riding breeches and tall boots and carry standard sidearms plus a department-issued radio. The horses themselves are department property, trained at the LAPD Mounted Stables.
The Dive Team handles underwater searches, body recovery, and harbor operations in conjunction with the Port of Los Angeles Police. Standard SCUBA gear, drysuits for cold-water work, underwater communications systems, and sonar imaging.
Equipment isn't only weapons and vehicles — the LAPD uniform itself is a piece of equipment with its own regulations and history. There are three primary classes.
Class A is the dress uniform — long-sleeve navy-blue wool blouse, matching trousers, the eight-point cap, black tie, and white gloves for ceremonial duty. It's worn for graduations, funerals, and official appearances.
Class B is the standard long-sleeve patrol uniform. Same navy blue, but built for daily wear with an exterior duty belt, body armor underneath, and a more functional cut.
Class C is the short-sleeve summer version — same color, same insignia placement, lighter fabric. Officers can wear a navy T-shirt visible at the collar, and most do.
SWAT and Metropolitan Division have separate BDU-style tactical uniforms in olive drab or dark navy, designed to accommodate plate carriers and tactical gear. Air Support pilots wear flame-resistant Nomex flight suits, a regulatory and safety requirement for anyone flying.
People often confuse the LAPD with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). They're separate agencies with overlapping jurisdictions and very different equipment profiles. LASD uniforms are tan and green rather than navy blue. LASD deputies historically carried the Beretta 92FS as the standard sidearm before transitioning to Smith & Wesson M&P pistols. LASD operates jails, court services, and patrol in unincorporated areas of LA County and contract cities — a different role than LAPD, which patrols the City of Los Angeles only.
Equipment-wise, LASD's aviation unit operates similar Bell and Airbus helicopters but in smaller numbers. LASD SWAT — the Special Enforcement Bureau — fields comparable tactical equipment. The two agencies often train together and assist on major incidents, but their gear contracts, uniform regulations, and qualification standards are independent.
One question candidates ask all the time — do officers buy their own gear? The answer is "some of it." Here's the breakdown.
Department-issued: the primary sidearm (Glock 17 Gen 5), body armor, duty belt and basic accessories (handcuffs, baton, OC spray, Taser), the Motorola APX 6000 radio, the Axon Body 3 body-worn camera, the patrol vehicle and shotgun assigned to that vehicle, the M16/M4 if the officer is rifle-qualified, and all uniform items at initial issue.
Officer-purchased (within approved options): backup sidearms, approved alternative duty pistols (Glock 19, Glock 22, Beretta 92F, Sig P226/P229), holsters that meet retention standards, flashlights beyond the basic issued model, knives and multitools, boots (officers select within an approved style list), and uniform replacement items beyond the initial issue.
The department provides a uniform maintenance allowance to offset cleaning, polish, and minor replacement costs between full re-issue. The allowance varies by collective bargaining agreement but typically runs several hundred dollars per year. Officers who carry approved personally-owned sidearms must qualify on that specific weapon annually at department ranges.
Equipment standardization at LAPD goes through a formal review process. The department's Training Division evaluates new equipment, the Use of Force Review Board assesses items with use-of-force implications (Tasers, less-lethal munitions, OC spray formulations), and the Police Commission ultimately approves significant equipment policy changes. Big-ticket items like helicopter purchases or new patrol vehicle contracts go through City Council approval.
That process is slow on purpose. It means LAPD doesn't chase every new gadget that hits the market, but it also means the equipment that does make the cut has been thoroughly tested and vetted. Officers occasionally grumble about the timeline — "we asked for these holsters three years ago" — but the deliberate pace has prevented several poorly-designed products from getting widespread issue.
If you're preparing for the LAPD hiring process, you don't need to memorize specific model numbers of every rifle in the inventory. What examiners and oral boards do want is your understanding of categories and roles — what a duty belt contains, why officers wear body armor, what a patrol rifle is for versus a shotgun, why air support matters in a city like LA.
Focus on the LAPD rank structure, the major divisions (Patrol, Detective, Metropolitan, Air Support), the LAPD careers path, and how equipment is used to fulfill the department's mission. The written exam covers reading comprehension, math, writing, and judgment — not weapon nomenclature. The oral board is looking for character and decision-making.
Practice tests help. A lot. Take a free LAPD practice test and work through the question types until they feel routine. The format matters as much as the content — pacing yourself, eliminating obvious wrong answers, and trusting your first read on judgment scenarios.
The LAPD's equipment inventory reflects what it takes to police one of the most diverse, sprawling, and complicated cities in the world. From the Glock on an officer's hip to the AS350 thumping overhead at midnight, every piece has a purpose. Some of it — like the M16 rifle in the patrol car rack — gets attention because it looks dramatic on the news. Most of it, like the body armor under every uniform, does its job quietly and without fanfare.
If you're preparing for a career with the department, focus on what the gear is for, not what it weighs or who makes it. The officers who succeed at LAPD aren't the ones who know every model number — they're the ones who understand when to draw a weapon, when to call air support, when to wait for SWAT, and when a calm voice does the job better than any of it. The equipment is a tool. The judgment is what matters.
Get started. Take a practice test, study the rank structure, and learn what each piece of gear is meant to do. The badge is the goal. The gear is what comes with it.