Mapping Mega-Event Policing in Los Angeles

East Tower 

Security measures have become a hallmark of large-scale events, functioning not only as essential components of FIFA and Olympic infrastructure but also as lasting "legacies" in host cities (Bennett & Haggerty 2012). These measures entail significant public investment and collaboration among various stakeholders, including federal, state, and local law enforcement, national armed forces, immigration services, and private security firms (Fussey & Klauser 2015; Coaffee 2016). Framed as crucial for safety, mega-event security often capitalizes on the perceived vulnerabilities of women and children (De Lisio, Silk & Hubbard 2024; Oliver & De Lisio 2023) to rationalize extensive security investments. Our research group, led by community experts in Los Angeles–the host of the 2026 FIFA Cup, 2027 NFL Super Bowl and 2028 Olympic Games–examines how mega-event security narratives distract from the gender-based violence endemic to FIFA/Olympic governing bodies (Poppelwell-Scevak 2022; Cronn-Mills 2022) and the real vulnerabilities of marginalized communities. This paper highlights policing practices in downtown Los Angeles, focusing on the implications of security measures purportedly designed to "rescue" women and children. By analyzing Freedom of Information data from the Los Angeles Police Department, alongside press releases that justify security investments based on human trafficking concerns, we elucidate how these narratives are strategically employed to criminalize and displace vulnerable groups, thereby facilitating real estate speculation in anticipation of event tourism. Ultimately, we investigate who is invoked to rationalize security investments in relation to who disproportionately bears the burden of their enforcement.