Members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are joining police officers from around the world to support law enforcement efforts at the Paris Summer Olympics.
The department said 28 LASD personnel came to France to provide resources to U.S. citizens and athletes visiting and participating in the Olympics and to help sheriff’s deputies prepare to host the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The department said in a statement that the Sheriff’s delegation is made up of “a variety of specialized units,” including patrol units and canine units. “This diverse team will gain valuable experience and insights that will enhance our ability to prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles.”
Team members will observe best practices for maintaining safety and security at international events and discuss public safety strategies with police from other countries, the department said.
Members of the Paris-Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department responsible for the 2024 Olympics.
(Los Angeles SD)
“Our goal is to provide the highest level of public safety to the Los Angeles County community when the Olympics come.”
The LAPD has also sent a group of reserve officers to Paris to work at event sites across the country under the supervision of France’s national police and gendarmerie, according to law enforcement documents reviewed by The Times.
France will pay for the officers’ flights and accommodation, but not meals, the document said.
The Los Angeles Police Department said the French government has temporarily suspended a law that prohibits overseas police officers from bearing weapons in the country.
The delegation of officials will provide additional protection during visits to the games by Los Angeles political leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass.
At a press conference late last month, Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez announced plans to deploy around 30,000 police officers, including armed officers, every day, with a peak of 45,000 deployed, to attend the opening of the Seine River, where boats and a large number of people watched the opening ceremony on the embankment.
Nunez said dozens of police officers would come from departments in other countries, supplemented by about 25,000 private security personnel.
Times staff writer Libor Jany contributed to this report.
