LAPD Faces Hurdles in Gang Investigations Six Years After Database Ban

Origins and Purpose of CalGang (Image Credits: Nypost.com)

Los Angeles – Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles reported ongoing difficulties in tracking gang-related crime following the 2020 revocation of access to a statewide intelligence database.[1][2]

Origins and Purpose of CalGang

The CalGang database served as a shared tool for California law enforcement agencies to store information on suspected gang members and associates. It held records on roughly 80,000 individuals, with the Los Angeles Police Department contributing nearly a quarter of the entries.[3][4]

Assembly Bill 90, passed in 2017, placed oversight of the system under the California Department of Justice to address longstanding concerns about accuracy and fairness. Previous audits had uncovered issues such as the inclusion of young children and entries based on vague criteria like clothing or neighborhood residence.[4]

Regulations aimed to require reasonable suspicion for inclusions, but implementation lagged amid debates over the system’s reliability.

The 2020 Scandal That Prompted Action

Trouble escalated in early 2020 when investigations revealed LAPD officers had falsified records, labeling innocent people as gang affiliates during routine traffic stops. Three officers faced felony charges, including conspiracy and filing false reports, while probes extended to 21 others.[4][1]

An internal LAPD audit described entries as haphazard and untrustworthy, prompting the department to impose a moratorium on new submissions in June. Chief Michel Moore announced the permanent withdrawal from the program shortly after.[5]

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra then revoked statewide access to LAPD-generated records. He emphasized, “CalGang is only as good as the data that is put into it. If a quarter of the program’s data is suspect, then the utility of the entire system rightly comes under the microscope.”[3]

• Subjective identification criteria led to unreliable entries.
• Disproportionate impact on Black and Latino communities raised bias concerns.
• Lack of public access hindered challenges to listings.
• Audits exposed falsified information by officers.

Current Challenges for LAPD Gang Units

Capt. Ahmad Zarekani, head of the LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division, highlighted the void left by the database. “By our own rules and ordinances, we’re not supposed to keep track of gang members,” he said. “Now, we’re not allowed to track anyone by their gang association.”[1]

Previously, officers documented tattoos, workplaces, and associations in centralized files. That capability vanished, complicating investigations in a city Zarekani called “the hub of gang activity in the whole country.”[1]

Recent operations demonstrate resilience but also limitations. In a joint effort dubbed Operation Dead Horse, LAPD and FBI arrested 12 alleged 18th Street Gang leaders on charges ranging from murder to extortion. Zarekani described it as a “significant blow,” though rebuilding could take time.[1]

Debate Over Reforms and Public Safety

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli criticized the restrictions as counterproductive. “They’re not reforms – what’s the opposite of reform? It’s degrading,” he argued, prioritizing individual victims over statistics.[1]

Advocates had long pushed for changes, citing harassment and barriers to employment for those wrongly listed. The episode underscored tensions between intelligence needs and safeguards against misuse.

The balance between robust policing and accountability remains a core challenge for Los Angeles. Stronger oversight could restore trust while preserving vital tools. What do you think about the trade-offs? Tell us in the comments.