As LAPD’s mounted unit faces scrutiny over protest tactics, police commission approves a new horse

This story was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on June 23, 2025.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s use of mounted officers during recent protests has drawn sharp criticism from residents, civil rights groups and journalists, with videos showing aggressive crowd control tactics.

Footage shared on social media shows LAPD officers on horseback charging at protesters to clear crowds. In another widely circulated video, they surround a protester who is on the ground while horses appear to kick and run him over.

“It is reminiscent of the Rodney King video except most of the officers in this current video are on horseback,” wrote civil rights attorney Carol Sobel in a letter sent to Mayor Karen Bass and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell last week on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild and the Los Angeles Community Action Network.

The LAPD’s Metro Mounted Platoon has played a prominent role in the department’s response to protests against federal immigration enforcement in the downtown area that began on June 6. The platoon’s primary focus is “crime prevention, crowd management, and handling demonstrations,” according to its website. But its recent deployments have caused accusations of excessive force.

Public commenters question LAPD’s response to downtown protests

At last Tuesday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting, several public commenters criticized the LAPD’s response to protests, particularly the mounted unit.

“I’ve seen officers use horses to charge peaceful crowds, forcing them through clouds of tear gas and into people holding signs and medic kits,” said a public commenter named Alexei, who identified themselves as a street medic. “That’s not public safety, that’s a state-sanctioned attack.”

Police Commission President Erroll Southers began last Tuesday’s meeting acknowledging that some LAPD interactions with the public “are of concern.” He went on to say that the process for potentially discipling officers is both complex and time-consuming, but that “complaints will be investigated with discipline applied when and where appropriate.”

Both he and McDonnell expressed their support for residents’ right to peaceful protest but emphasized that those who take part in violence against officers or destruction of property will be held accountable.

“As daily peaceful protests wind down, there’s been a small group that has deliberately worked to counteract the message of organizers and protesters and enables detractors to falsely label protesters as violent criminals,” Southers said at the meeting.

The department recently ended a citywide tactical alert triggered by the protests, with McDonnell confirming “officers will go back to their regular duties.”

LAPD liability payouts have cost the city over $100 million in recent years

The LAPD’s response to protests comes weeks after the City Council worked to close a $1 billion dollar budget deficit created in part by $320 million of liability payouts against city departments. Over $100 million in payouts came as a result of suits filed against the LAPD.

This week, the Los Angeles Press Club and investigative reporting network Status Coup filed a lawsuit against the LAPD for allegedly violating journalists’ rights under the U.S. Constitution and state law at recent protests. While it’s unknown how much liability payouts could cost the city, Sobel told the Los Angeles Public Press she expects payouts by state, county and federal law enforcement agencies could reach $100 million.

Since protests began, the city has incurred an estimated $32 million in costs through June 17, according to L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia. More than $29.5 million of that cost is related to LAPD, and $1.4 million of that cost is related to property damage and cleanup.

Commissioners approve new horse even as scrutiny mounts

Amid the criticism, the LAPD’s mounted unit is adding a new horse. At the same Board of Police Commissioners meeting, the board approved the donation of Domino, a 12-year-old horse with a “quiet, calm personality.” Domino will replace one of three horses set to retire from service, bringing the number of horses in the herd to 25, according to Mounted Platoon Officer Anthony Daniel.

Domino is the first horse added to the unit in 2025, donated by the Los Angeles Mounted Police Foundation, which contributed five horses to the unit in 2024.