Counter-Terrorism Bureau/Real LAPD

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau featured in the Major Crimes Universe is fictional, though it is based on the real Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CTCIB). The CTCIB was responsible for providing counter-terrorism resources to the department, including the Bomb Squad Unit, the Bomb Detection K-9 Unit, and the Hazardous Materials Unit. CTCIB was also responsible for gathering intelligence on criminal organizations, investigating organized crime, providing surveillance support to investigations, and investigating acts of terror and person(s)/group(s) who plan on committing or financing acts of terror. The CTCIB was merged with the Special Operations Bureau in 2010, creating the new Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau (CTSOB).

Major Crimes Division

NOTE: In the Major Crimes Universe, as the Major Crimes Division featured in the show(s) is fictional, the investigative responsibilities of the real Major Crimes Division are mostly divided between the Counter-Terrorism Division and the Criminal Intelligence Division (which are both fictional), though a few responsibilities are assigned to the Major Crimes Universe's MCD and to the Special Investigation Section.

The Major Crimes Division (MCD) is responsible for gathering intelligence on criminal organizations, investigating organized crime, providing surveillance support to investigations, investigating acts of terror and person(s)/group(s) who plan on committing or financing acts of terror, and for preventing individuals and/or groups from harassing or harming others on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Analysis Section

The Analysis Section is responsible for analyzing intelligence and criminal information; establishing patterns of criminal activity and threat assessment; and disseminating reports and documents for the purpose of providing assessment, warning, recommendation, and information, in the development of strategy for crime prevention as it relates to terrorism or other major crimes assigned to MCD.

Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Section

The Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Section is responsible for investigating, identifying and monitoring individuals and groups that may be engaged in terrorist activity; maintaining intelligence files on individuals and groups that may be engaged in terrorist activity; assessing and analyzing the capabilities of terrorist individuals or groups, and providing concerned department entities with sufficient information to thwart their terrorist goals; and assisting other divisions of the department and other law enforcement agencies to prevent terrorist activities.

• Terrorist activity is described as "individuals and groups who may be planning, threatening, financing, aiding/abetting, attempting or performing unlawful acts to further their societal objectives, to influence societal action, or to harass on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation."

Criminal Conspiracy Section

The Criminal Conspiracy Section is responsible for

• investigating all bombings, attempt bombings, bomb threats, explosive devices, nuclear, chemical, radiological or biological materials when used in the commission of a crime, including homicides by bombing, or as it relates to terrorism;
• all crimes related to the threat of a bomb;
• investigating selected hate crimes and hate incidents involving explosives, terrorism or arson;
• investigating and/or assisting the Los Angeles Fire Department Arson Unit for arson-related crimes at houses of worship (e.g., a suspicious fire at a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, etc.);
• investigating crimes of extortion or threats of extortion when the extortion elements involve real or implied reference to explosives or any type of nuclear, radiological, chemical or biological material; and
• providing assistance to Area Detective Divisions on investigations when the scope of the investigations exceeds the resources of the Area Detective Division and/or if it's terrorist-related.

Criminal Investigations Section

The Criminal Investigations Section is responsible for investigating and arresting individuals involved in criminal activity that may support a criminal network, or that may have a national or international criminal infrastructure.

Organized Crime Section

The Organized Crime Section is responsible for:

• collecting and disseminating intelligence information relative to organized crime;
• gathering, recording, and conducting investigations concerning individuals and organizations whose backgrounds, activities, or associates identify them with, or are characteristic of organized crime;
• providing information concerning organized crime to the department and other law enforcement agencies;
• investigating organized criminal activity whose objective is to influence the entertainment, sports, and adult entertainment industries;
• conducting investigative and enforcement efforts on those individuals, groups, or enterprises involved in major organized criminal activities;
• collecting, recording, maintaining, and disseminating intelligence information relevant to individuals or groups involved in major organized criminal enterprises characteristic of large scale organized crime groups;
• monitoring arson investigations involving suspects, victims, or activities associated with organized crime, and maintaining liaison with the Los Angeles City Fire Department for the purpose of providing information to arson investigators to assist in the investigation of arsons involving members of organized crime;
• correlating and maintaining intelligence information related to organized crime activities; and
• researching proposed and new legislation and developing procedures to assist in maintaining effective organized crime control.

Surveillance Support Section

The Surveillance Support Section is responsible for providing support to investigations through surveillance operations, and gathering intelligence and criminal information through surveillance activity.

Emergency Services Division

The Emergency Services Division (ESD) provides service, training, and the direct support necessary to prepare the LAPD for response to emergencies, disasters, and other unusual occurrences.

Hazardous Devices and Materials Section

Bomb Squad Unit

The Bomb Squad Unit is responsible for:

• Responding to incidents involving real or potential criminal use of hazardous materials and render safe and/or remove suspected destructive devices, hazardous materials devices, improvised explosive devices, incendiary devices, explosives, explosive chemicals, pyrotechnics, military ordnance;
• Maintaining security and preservation of crime scenes involving bombings, attempt bombings, and bomb threats until determining it to be safe;
• Exercising functional supervision over the physical collection, preservation, marking, and booking of evidence; and
• Conducting post-blast crime scene investigations.

Hazardous Materials Unit

The Hazardous Materials Unit is responsible for:

• Investigation and enforcement of hazardous materials transportation safety laws;
• Investigation of environmental crimes, including illegal storage and disposal/discharge of hazardous substances/materials; and
• Responding to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incidents, assisting federal authorities in gathering and preserving evidence, conducting reconnaissance for and assisting the LAPD Bomb Squad in locating potential chemical, biological, and radiological dispersal devices.

Bomb Detection K-9 Section

The Bomb Detection K-9 Section is a specialized group of Explosive Detection Canine (EDC) handlers, and their K9 partners, whose mission is to deter and detect the introduction of explosive devices in transportation systems, public events and venues, the City of Los Angeles, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The section operates in a partnership with the Transportation Security Administration and the Los Angeles World Airport Police to provide security at the Los Angeles International Airport, conducting canine explosive searches at LAX, and planning, directing, and implementing detailed searches of aircraft, terminals, vehicles, warehouses, luggage, and any other structure or open area, to respond to bomb threats at LAX.

The Explosive Detection Canine Teams are available to respond seven days a week to calls throughout the city. The EDC teams are available at the airport and in the City for the following types of duties:

• bomb threat incidents;
• searches for secondary devices during Bomb Squad responses or other large-scale operations where the need for such sweeps are anticipated such as post-blast incidents, large evacuation incidents where crowds may be targeted, and command post locations;
• special events;
• dignitary protection details;
• search warrants; and
• unattended items/vehicles (suspicious items/vehicles are handled by Bomb Squad).

Emergency Operations Section

The Emergency Operations Section is responsible for maintaining liaison with the Emergency Operations Organization regarding the Department Operations Center (DOC); assisting department entities in preparations for maintenance operations during natural disasters and other unusual occurrences; developing, coordinating, and delivering incident management training, drills, and exercises to department personnel; coordinating organization and deployment plans for major unusual occurrences; and evaluating procedures, tactics, and techniques to be employed during unusual occurrences.

Department Operations Center Unit

The Department Operations Center (DOC) is the Department Command Post during times of emergency. It is activated during a major unusual occurrence, serious incident, or when a serious incident appears imminent. When activated, the DOC coordinates the department’s emergency response activities. It also provides logistical support for incidents, gathers intelligence, maintains a chronological report of incidents, and maintains an overall citywide status summary of the Police Department.

The Department Operations Center Unit is responsible for:

• Reviewing and implementing forms and systems used in the DOC;
• Training personnel for DOC operations;
• Planning and developing DOC systems and procedures;
• Providing current rosters of the DOC cadre to Communications Division each deployment period;
• Coordinating training activities of the DOC cadre;
• Coordinating organization and deployment plans for major unusual occurrences; and
• Providing regularly assigned personnel to staff the DOC when it is activated as a temporary entity during an unusual occurrence.

Emergency Preparedness Unit

The Emergency Preparedness Unit is responsible for developing, coordinating, and conducting training exercises for field personnel specific to each area, as well as for major events such as disasters, bomb threats, flooding, etc.

The Emergency Preparedness Unit is responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining the Emergency Operations Guide;
• Evaluating procedures, tactics, and techniques to be employed during disasters and other emergencies;
• Developing methods for the collection and evaluation of information related to the control of emergencies;
• Coordinating the acquisition and administration of federal homeland security grants received by the LAPD;
• Maintaining a special liaison with the Emergency Management Commission for the County and City of Los Angeles to coordinate emergency operations and management planning;
• Observing and evaluating LAPD activities in the control of serious and major unusual occurrences;
• Developing and providing training to LAPD personnel on incident management for unusual occurrences, including acts of terrorism; and
• Assisting LAPD entities in preparations for maintenance of operations during natural disasters and other unusual occurrences.

Incident Command Post Unit

The Incident Command Post Unit is responsible for:

• Maintaining and deploying certain equipment and supplies used during unusual occurrences and unusual major events;
• Evaluating LAPD activities in the control of serious or major unusual occurrences and unusual major events;
• Evaluating tactical equipment to be used in the control of disasters and other emergencies;
• Developing and maintaining the LAPD's Mobile Command Post and deploying the Fleet vehicles as required;
• Providing Department Mobile Command Post Fleet vehicles to bureau and Area commanding officers; and
• Supervising the Military Property Acquisition Team (MPAT), responsible for coordinating the acquisition of military surplus equipment for use by the LAPD.

Major Event Planning Unit

The Major Event Planning Unit is responsible for:

• Preparing operations plans for policing non-emergency special events when anticipated policing requirements exceed the capability of the concerned geographic bureau;
• Preparing operations plans for policing non-emergency special events that have been deemed to have a significant risk of a possible terrorist action;
• Providing geographic bureaus and areas with direct assistance for preparing operations plans for special events not described above;
• Providing training on preparing operations plans for special events to geographic bureau and area special event coordinators; and
• Reviewing and evaluating operations plans developed by geographic bureaus and areas to ensure compliance with LAPD policies and procedures.

Special Events Permit Unit

The Special Events Permit Unit is responsible for:

• Receiving and processing applications for special events and film permit locations;
• Preparing and distributing to department commands a monthly Special Events calendar;
• Preparing and distributing to geographic areas film location reports involving explosions and/or firearms activity; and
• Responding to filming locations when requested by a field supervisor in situations when a field supervisor has established that a person in charge of a film crew refuses or can't correct film code violations.