Seven LAPD officers taken out of field amid investigation into excessive force against protestors

A protester, who appears to have a bruise from a rubber bullet, raises his arm shortly before being arrested for violating a curfew in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating dozens of allegations of misconduct by its officers during anti-police brutality protests following the death of George Floyd two weeks ago.

The LAPD has registered 56 complaint investigations so far, the department said Wednesday. Of those, 28 involve excessive force.

“The Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate allegations of misconduct, violations of Department policy, and excessive force during the recent civil unrest,” police said in a statement.

Seven officers have been taken out of the field “due to improper actions during the protests,” the LAPD said.

The LAPD has been criticized for extreme measures taken during the protests, including videos of officers beating protesters with batons.

“We’re investigating each of those instances … each of those video reports as an independent investigation,” Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Friday on KPCC.

“I don’t have all the facts and circumstances behind each of those depictions, and watching those videos does give me concern in instances of understanding why baton strikes or violence, in the sense of the use of … less-lethal munition was used.”

At a press conference outside police headquarters Wednesday, members of Black Lives Matter-LA and the Los Angeles Community Action Network called for the LAPD to end its use of rubber projectiles, batons and other less-lethal force.

“This case is about the irony of people in the streets protesting against police brutality, and they’re met with police brutality,” attorney Jorge Gonzalez told ABC 7.

Amid calls to defund the police, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said last week that he plans to try to cut $150 million from the $1.8 billion operating budget, or about 8%.