How LAPRF Supported Officers During the June Protests
On June 6, protests erupted across Los Angeles following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at several city locations targeting individuals suspected of unlawful immigration. As demonstrations spread, some quickly escalated into violent clashes between protesters and the Los Angeles Police Department. The situation deteriorated rapidly, prompting Los Angeles County officials to declare a state of emergency. Federal forces — including the California National Guard and U.S. Marines — were deployed to protect federal assets throughout the county.
The LAPD declared tactical alerts intermittently on June 6, 7 and 8, then maintained a continuous citywide tactical alert from Monday, June 9, through Sunday, June 15 — seven consecutive days of sustained emergency operations. Officers were working grueling 14- to 17-hour shifts, often with little rest or relief. Logistical challenges mounted when the Department’s staging area had to be relocated multiple times. Initially set up in the Fire Academy parking lot below Dodger Stadium, it was forced to move once the Dodgers resumed play, then moved twice more before operations stabilized.
By Tuesday, June 10, word reached the LAPRF that supplies were running low at the staging area — particularly water and snacks. Foundation representatives visited the site to assess the situation, speaking directly with the officer in charge. When asked what the officers needed most, the answer came fast and firm: “Coffee. We need coffee.” A close second? Healthy snacks.
The Foundation immediately sprang into action. After dozens of phone calls, one Starbucks — located at 639 N. Broadway in Chinatown — agreed to donate urns containing the equivalent of 300 cups of coffee for the Wednesday “B” shift. Earlier that morning, LAPRF had already purchased more than 400 pounds of fresh fruit for delivery. On the way to deliver the fruit and pick up the coffee, volunteers found themselves in the middle of the protest as it surged onto Broadway. Parked illegally at the corner of Broadway and Cesar Chavez, the team was suddenly surrounded. Under ordinary circumstances, this might not have been alarming — but they were wearing LAPD-branded shirts. Given that protesters had already thrown fireworks at mounted units, torched Waymo vehicles and hurled frozen water bottles, bricks and other objects at officers, the fear was very real.
That “illegal park job” turned out to be a lifesaver. Flooring the gas pedal, the team made a sharp turn onto Cesar Chavez, escaping the crowd and delivering the coffee and fruit safely to exhausted officers. In that moment, a few urns of coffee and crates of fruit carried a powerful message: You are not forgotten.
After another half-dozen calls, LAPRF secured a vendor willing to provide coffee for both shifts, twice a day, at cost plus a small delivery fee. The Foundation would like to extend a special thank-you to Rick at Pit Stop Coffee for his generosity and support. Pit Stop Coffee supplied caffeine, sustaining officer morale throughout the remainder of the tactical alert. Rick can be reached at (310) 882-8181 or rick@pitstopcoffee.net for anyone interested in coffee or delicious baked goods for their next meeting or event.
Meanwhile, LAPRF continued to provide 300 to 400 pounds of fresh fruit daily, ensuring officers had a steady supply of healthy snacks during this grueling period. Thanks to the dedication of LAPRF volunteers and the generosity of Chinatown Starbucks and Pit Stop Coffee, officers received a tangible boost of energy and morale during one of the most demanding weeks in recent city history.