The Los Angeles Police Department are prepared for “riot mode” in the advent of the election of Republican nominee Donald Trump as President. The cops are expecting disturbances on the streets due to the outrage amongst the American public, particularly in minority groups who Trump has alienated during his campaign, and who make up a huge proportion of LA’s inner-city neighbourhoods.

This measure is “not unusual” for Presidential elections

A high-ranking law enforcement official who is in the know on the LAPD’s plans following Trump’s election says this kind of measure is “not unusual,” given the divisive and influential nature of Presidential elections, but went on to say “this has been a very unusual election,” suggesting that maybe this year’s measures are somewhat more unusual than normal.

He said, “We are ready to go into riot mode if required, if the order comes.”

LA cops are well-trained to deal with riots

Riot mode” simply refers to the LAPD’s protocol for dealing with riots. LA cops are extensively trained for riots, since the Rodney King riots took place in the city back in 1992 as a result of the acquittal of the police officers involved in the brutal treatment of taxi driver Rodney King, so whatever anti-Trump activists have to throw at them, they’ll be equipped to deal with it, especially given this high alert and preparation the department is undergoing. Los Angeles has also faced riots in Watts in 1965, and the Zoot Suit series of riots in 1943 during the Second World War, which resulted from a feud between Anglo-American sailors and Marines stationed in LA and the Latino youths that lived there.

LAPD chief spoke out on Twitter mid-election

Last night, as the votes were coming in, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck tweeted: “The men & women of the #LAPD are dedicated to making sure every Angeleno is able to safely exercise their right to #vote today. #electionday”

It could be that the LAPD’s riot mode has been made so widely known that any potential rioters have been warded off by fears that the cops are already for them, because despite these precautions, sources say there have so far been no signs of any civil unrest or public disturbances in Los Angeles today, with many taking to social media to voice their concerns and outrage at the election, rather than taking physical action, as was more popular twenty years ago.

It has been purported that the Department of Homeland Security has been firming up its contingency plans in LA and a handful of other major American cities.

Having sent patrols to every polling station in the city in order to prevent or control any violence or intimidation, LAPD Lieutenant Chris Ramirez told Deadline, “It’s business as usual.”