Rank-and-file police officers have blasted an “activist” federal judge for what they say is a dangerous ruling that strips cops of critical tools needed to control violent street protests In Los Angeles.
In a decision that has sparked fury within law enforcement, Judge Consuelo B. Marshall ruled that the Los Angeles Police Department violated federal law by deploying 40mm “less-lethal” projectile launchers during violent protests sparked by immigration raids carried out by ICE agents in June 2025.
The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Police Protective League — which represents roughly 8,700 sworn LAPD officers — accused the judge of ignoring the real-world dangers officers face on the streets.
“We urge this activist judge to come down from her ivory tower and witness the behavior of these so-called peaceful protesters who are rioting on the streets of Los Angeles,” the board said in a blistering statement.
“These criminals throw rocks, frozen water bottles, and chunks of concrete at police officers. They shoot military-grade projectiles, light cars on fire, and ransack businesses.
“Yet somehow, they are the victims.”
The 40mm launchers — which fire rubber, foam and plastic munitions — were first restricted in 2020 following their use during widespread protests after the murder of George Floyd. That earlier court order, stemming from litigation brought by Black Lives Matter activists, barred officers from targeting sensitive areas, required warnings when feasible, and limited use to situations involving immediate threats of violence.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, a 40-year veteran of the department who was appointed by Mayor Karen Bass in November 2024, warned the ruling removes a key de-escalation option.
The launcher, McDonnell said, allows officers to “maintain a safe distance from protesters, de-escalate dangerous situations, and protect the public without resorting to higher levels of force.” --->READ MORE HERE
Police have been banned from using a powerful, non-lethal weapon to control protests in an extraordinary federal court decision.
Judge Consuelo B. Marshall ruled on Thursday the Los Angeles Police Department violated a standing court injunction by deploying the 40mm and 37mm projectile launchers against protesters who did not pose an immediate threat of physical harm.
The ruling arose from protests in Los Angeles during the summer of 2025 following immigration enforcement raids carried out by the U.S Department of Homeland Security.
It comes as video, obtained by The Post, shows LAPD using the non-lethal weapons while under fire from protestors using fireworks against them. The videos were recorded during anti-Trump and anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles in June 2025.
Police believe using the projectile launchers is essential for officers facing fast-moving, unpredictable situations. They say they prevent more dangerous confrontations one-on-one confrontations, which increase danger not only to police, but to protesters and innocent bystanders during large-scale unrest.
The rounds fired from the weapons are from foam, rubber and plastic.
While those demonstrators were not part of the original order, which was made after Black Lives Matter protests, the court said the incidents were relevant in determining whether the city was complying with existing federal laws.
In a sharply worded order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Judge Marshall found that LAPD officers fired 40mm munitions without providing required warnings and struck protesters in areas of the body explicitly prohibited under the court’s earlier injunction.
“Here, Plaintiffs provide evidence that Defendants used 40mm munitions on protestors who did not pose an immediate threat of violence of physical harm, did not provide warnings before using the munitions, and hit protestors in restricted areas of the body,” Judge Marshall wrote.
The injunction at the center of the contempt ruling dates back to May 2021, when the court imposed strict limits on LAPD’s use of so-called “less-lethal” weapons following widespread protests in Los Angeles in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. --->READ MORE HERE
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