Los Angeles has paid nearly $480 million since 2019 to settle or resolve legal claims involving its Police Department, an analysis of city attorney data shows.
The payments cover allegations of officer misconduct, traffic crashes and workplace discrimination. Records show nearly 2,000 payouts dating back to January 2019. Annual lawsuit costs more than doubled between 2019 and 2025, with multimillion-dollar verdicts contributing to the increase.
Police-related payouts peaked at $178.6 million in 2024 across more than 300 lawsuits and civil claims, then fell to just over $100 million in 2025. In the first six months of 2026, the city paid $20.3 million in settlements and judgments involving officers. That figure excludes several large verdicts still awaiting City Council approval.
City Controller Kenneth Mejia has said the mounting costs leave less money for needs such as road and sidewalk repairs. The payments come amid broader budget pressure: Los Angeles faced a $1 billion shortfall in 2025.
Please note! Comments are published by readers. The opinions expressed may not reflect the position of the editorial team. USCT is not responsible for the content of readers' opinions and asks authors to observe moral standards, not to incite national or racial hatred, and to avoid rudeness. Think before you speak. You are responsible for your words! By publishing an opinion, you agree to the rules! If this request is ignored, USCT reserves the right to deprive the user of the ability to leave comments.