From whom do a police departments take their orders from?  

Grok:

Local police in the United States typically take their orders from a chain of command within their own department. At the top is usually a Chief of Police or Commissioner, who is appointed by and answers to the local government—often the mayor or city council, depending on the municipality’s structure. The specifics can vary by state and locality, as policing is largely a decentralized system here.

For example, in a city like New York, the NYPD Commissioner is appointed by the mayor and operates under the city’s authority. In smaller towns, a police chief might report to a town council or manager. Beyond that, local police aren’t directly controlled by federal or state authorities unless they’re collaborating on specific task forces or under emergency mandates (like a governor declaring a state of emergency).

If you’re asking about a particular place or situation, let me know, and I can dig deeper! 

Now do Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) operates under a chain of command within the city's government structure. Ultimately, the LAPD takes its orders from the civilian leadership of Los Angeles. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Chief of Police: The LAPD is directly led by the Chief of Police, who is appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles and confirmed by the City Council. The current Chief as of March 27, 2025, would be responsible for implementing policies and directives from above while managing day-to-day operations.
• Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners: This civilian oversight body, appointed by the Mayor, sets overall policy for the LAPD and supervises the department. They don’t give direct operational orders but establish guidelines and approve major decisions.
• Mayor of Los Angeles: As the city’s chief executive, the Mayor (currently Karen Bass, unless something has changed by March 2025) has significant influence over the LAPD through the appointment of the Chief and Commissioners. The Mayor can direct broad priorities, like focusing on specific crime issues or community policing initiatives.
• City Council: The Los Angeles City Council approves the LAPD’s budget and can influence department policy through legislation, but they don’t issue direct orders to the police.

In practice, the LAPD’s orders come from the Chief of Police, who balances directives from the Mayor and Police Commissioners with operational needs. For example, if the Mayor pushes for a crackdown on homelessness or gang activity, the Chief translates that into actionable orders for officers. The department is also subject to state and federal laws, and in rare cases (like emergencies or federal investigations), they might coordinate with agencies like the California Governor’s office or the U.S. Department of Justice.

Does that clarify it for you? Let me know if you want more detail!