LAPD launches foot patrols to purge drug activity from MacArthur Park
The LAPD’s Rampart Division began on-foot patrols in MacArthur Park, arresting a fentanyl user and targeting remaining low-level dealers.
In a renewed effort to cleanse MacArthur Park of its long-standing drug problem, the LAPD’s Rampart Division deployed teams of nine officers for on-foot patrols. The sweep resulted in the arrest of a woman caught smoking fentanyl, who was found with a meth pipe and a fentanyl container and provided several names for prosecution. Officers reported a stark contrast between the park’s north side, where only pedestrians and dog walkers were present, and the south side, where users and low-level dealers fled as police approached, with one homeless individual receiving a shelter referral.
The operation follows a series of coordinated actions involving LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, federal prosecutor Bill Essayli and LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman that have disrupted major drug rings and the Mexican Mafia’s local distribution. Local business owner Norm Langer estimates the park’s transformation is about 70% complete and hopes the space will become safe for families. The foot patrols aim to finish the cleanup and restore the park for community use.
Why it matters
The patrols signal a decisive step toward making a historically unsafe public space safe for residents and families.
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