LAPD report reveals 91% decrease in investigations of terrorism in 2023

There was a 91% decrease in investigations into suspicious activity related to terrorism in Los Angeles in 2023, a stark drop compared to the 246 reports processed in 2015, according to an annual report released Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Board of Police Commission unanimously approved the Nationwide SAR Initiative, a report mandated in 2009 for all law enforcement agencies in the United States as ordered by the 9/11 Commission. The report is intended to encourage the sharing of information across multiple levels of government to prevent terrorism and other criminal activity.

LAPD began collecting Suspicious Activity Reports — or SARs — in 2008 to document reported or observed activity that was believed by officers to have a nexus to foreign or domestic terrorism. Usually the reports detail occurrences of “suspicious activity” — defined or observed behavior reasonably indicative of pre-operational planning related to terrorism or other criminal activity.

Earlier this year, the LAPD’s Office of Inspector General conducted a review of the 45 SARs submitted between 2022 and 2023. The report found that SARs processed since 2015 decreased by 91% — from 246 SARs in 2015 to 22 in 2023.

The OIG concluded that each of the 45 SARs were in compliance with the department’s current policies. The report also included recommendations to improve the department’s SAR Process, including the creation of a log to account for all SARs received and processed in chronological sequence; and to ensure that any officers involved in a SAR investigation activate their body-worn camera.

Of the 45 SARs processed, 16 reports were unfounded, and 29 had been affirmed of being activity related to terrorism. LAPD is tasked with reporting to the Joint Regional Intelligence Center, which has the responsibility of preparing and presenting SARs to the FBI for further action.

Some members of the board raised concerns over how the process can negatively impact Black, Latino, Muslim and other ethnic communities. Officers or residents of L.A. can report what they perceive as suspicious activity, and prejudice or racism can influence a report.

LAPD officers assured commissioners that criteria for accepting and processing a SAR does not include race, language and other things. Law enforcement officials emphasized that there are clear guidelines that determine what activity calls for a SAR.