Metropolitan Division is responsible for managing the LAPD's specialized crime suppression, K-9, mounted, and SWAT units, named "platoons".

Metropolitan Division is responsible for numerous duties including solving major crimes, search warrant service, dignitary protection, surveillance, counterterrorism, riot control, and resolving high-risk standoffs.

[5] On April 14, 2015, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced during the 2015 State of the City address that he would add more than 200 officers to division in an effort to control the crime rate which dramatically increased the year previously.

[6] This included a vehicle stop strategy being implemented by Chief Charlie Beck to address a spike in shootings in South Los Angeles.

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), "D" Platoon personnel, respond to emergency situations involving barricaded suspects or hostages.

[10] Metropolitan Division also maintains a doctor, crisis negotiators, and other specialists in weaponry, computer science, and audio-visual technology.

Their most active function is maintaining selective enforcement details in high-frequency crime areas and targeting repeat offenders and criminal predators.

It provides the LAPD with 24-hour coverage necessary for immediate response to barricaded suspects, snipers, crisis and hostage negotiations, potential suicide-related situations, and other high-risk incidents.

On December 6, 1969, two patrol officers claimed to have seen Panther members, Paul Redd, "Duck" Smith and Geronimo Pratt, in possession of illegal firearms.

Search warrants for illegal weapons were filed with the L.A. County Court Office were issued and served two hours before sunrise on December 9, 1969.

It was decided that the previously untested SWAT unit, led by Daryl Gates and Sergeant Patrick McKinley would take the lead of the raid into the Black Panther Headquarters at 41st and Central.

All six arrested Panthers were acquitted of the most serious charges brought against them, including conspiracy to murder police officers, because it was ruled that they acted in self-defense.

The encounter with the SLA sparked a trend towards SWAT teams being issued body armor and fully automatic weapons of various types.

It began when responding North Hollywood Division patrol officers engaged Phillips and Mătăsăreanu leaving a bank which the two men had just robbed.

[28] Phillips and Mătăsăreanu had robbed several banks prior to their attempt in North Hollywood and were notorious for their heavy armament, which included automatic rifles.

[29] Randal "Randy" David Simmons (July 22, 1956 – February 7, 2008) was the first member of the LAPD SWAT to be killed in the line of duty in its 40-year history (although an officer died in a training accident in 1998).

[32] To honor his legacy, the Metropolitan Division Randal Simmons Explorer Post 114 was named and dedicated after his death to continue his youth outreach work.

[33][34][35] Riot control actions from the officers[36] resulted in 27 protestors and nine media employees being injured, five people being arrested, and at least 50 civilians filing complaints regarding mistreatment.

[37] A $13 million settlement was paid over allegations of civil rights violations,[38] and 17 officers and two sergeants from Metropolitan Division were disciplined for their actions.

The helicopter was deployed after it was determined the suspect, who broke into a house and armed himself with the homeowner's gun, held a position that was too advantageous over officers on the ground.

[43][44] The former sergeant alleged that after he informed the LAPD Internal Affairs Division of the SWAT Mafia's existence, he was forcibly transferred out of SWAT to a K-9 assignment at Los Angeles International Airport, which he claimed was deliberately picked to inconvenience him with the lengthy travel time required from his home in San Bernardino County.

[43] In 2022, following an internal investigation ordered by Chief Michel Moore, the LAPD released a report denying D Platoon had issues related to lethal force.

In 2003, a film adaptation of the series starred Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell and LL Cool J and was directed by Clark Johnson.