The Los Angeles Police League has a proud and distinguished history representing over 9,200 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Our History
The organization began in 1922 when the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments banded together under one group to establish one retirement system for the City’s police officers and firefighters.
In 1923, the Police and Fire Protective League was established to protect the newly established retirement system.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the League obtained medical and other benefits for the City’s police officers and firefighters. Job protections were established in the City’s Charter.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the League gained numerous pay raises for the expanding number of police officers and firefighters protecting the growing City of Los Angeles.
In the '60s and '70s, the League continued to obtain additional benefits, including longevity pay and time-and-one-half overtime compensation for police officers and firefighters, and hazard pay for motorcycle officers.
In 1973, the Police and Fire League separated into two organizations. The Los Angeles Police Protective League was established as the recognized bargaining organization to represent Los Angeles police officers from the rank of police officer to lieutenant. The United Firefighters of Los Angeles City was established as the bargaining organization for firefighters.
The Protective League Board of Directors was created to manage the operations of the League. The League, a California non-profit corporation, now has nine elected directors who manage a multi-million dollar budget and set policy for the corporation. The League sponsored state legislation to ensure police officers’ rights were protected when being investigated internally. Governor Jerry Brown signed the Public Safety Officers procedural Bill of Rights Act, which continues to protect officers’ rights today.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the League negotiated multi-year contracts with the City which increased officers’ salaries, medical and dental benefits, and life insurance coverage.
In 1996, the League purchased its present office, a four-story office building in downtown Los Angeles. The new office was part of the expansion of the League operations to enhance membership services.
All League funds are used for collective bargaining, scholarships, legal matters, government advocacy, and numerous member services and activities.
The League has full time in-house attorneys and legal staff who deal with unfair labor practices, grievances, arbitrations and a myriad of other legal issues on behalf of the entire membership.
