Who approved MacArthur Park drug arrests?

Los Angeles residents learned in early June that the rules for using drugs in MacArthur Park had changed. On June 4, 2026, Los Angeles Police Department officers, working alongside federal agents, began arresting individuals for being under the influence, drinking, or carrying large items. This marked a shift from a strategy focused on sellers to one targeting users.

The change in policy created a public disagreement between city leadership and federal prosecutors. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that Mayor Karen Bass supported the operation. He told reporters at the park on June 4 that Bass had personally spoken with him and that the police would not have been there without her approval.

Essayli described the June 4 activity as the third phase of a larger operation. He said this phase involved a consistent law enforcement presence to enforce state laws prohibiting public intoxication and possession with intent to use. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman was also present. He argued that buyers enable the illicit trade. He stated that if there were no demand for drugs in the park, suppliers would have nowhere to go.

Mayor Bass offered a different account. At a World Cup watch party in the park two days after the arrests, she told reporters she had not approved the shift. She said the focus on targeting drug users was not coming from the city. She attributed the enforcement strategy to the federal government. Her office later said by email that it would not comment on law enforcement operations.

In February 2026, Bass had drawn a clear line on drug enforcement. She told reporters that the city’s focus would be on traffickers, not users. She said arresting people who were under the influence was not a solution. She preferred to provide users with access to treatment programs. She noted that the state and county, not the city, are responsible for providing mental health and drug treatment services.

The June 4 operation was part of a series of sweeps. Local and federal agencies conducted two more operations near the park by the end of June. These actions targeted people dealing or using drugs. However, the focus on arresting users did not last. By August, LAPD officers told the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Council that no more joint operations with the DEA and other agencies would take place.

The police department is now transitioning to a final phase. This phase focuses on connecting people dependent on drugs with services. Officers will continue to target suspected dealers. Capt. Ben Fernandes, who leads the Rampart Division, said the department follows the law and the chief of police. He said the police worked with federal partners to take bad actors to jail.

Bass maintained her position during a forum on October 15. She said that when the LAPD enforces drug use laws, it is usually a cite and release. She supports drug court, where nonviolent felony cases can be dismissed if defendants agree to supervised recovery. She said this approach holds people accountable for their drug use. City Councilmember Nithya Raman, Bass’ opponent in the mayoral race, said she would allow the police to enforce the laws as they see fit.