The Los Angeles Police Department has dropped an ad service after a recruitment advertisement appeared on Breitbart’s website.
The ad, which was first reported by Daily Beast editor-in-chief Noah Shachtman, shows a female officer with the caption, “Choose your future. LAPD is hiring!”
Uhhhh why is the LAPD running recruitment ads on Breitbart?! pic.twitter.com/9gr1hnmy4o
— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) September 28, 2019
After public outcry, LAPD chief Michael Moore revealed on social media that both the LAPD and LA City Personnel Department opened investigations into how the ad appeared on the site and he also speculated that they could be a “spoof/other effort to discredit LAPD.”
“The LAPD celebrates diversity and embraces it within our ranks, and within the city we serve. We are aware that a recruitment advertisement has been circulated on a website that creates a negative juxtaposition to our core values,” the LAPD tweeted on Saturday. “We take matters like this very seriously, and have begun an initial inquiry into the matter and to determine its validity, as well as what future steps can and will be taken to avoid this situation occurring in the future.”
We take matters like this very seriously, and have begun an initial inquiry into the matter and to determine its validity, as well as what future steps can and will be taken to avoid this situation occurring in the future.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) September 28, 2019
After an investigation, it became clear the ad was placed on Breitbart because of purchasing ad placement through Google. Google places ad based on demographics and not based on specific sites, according to the Washington Post.
“We have stopped these Google Ads altogether while we reexamine our ad filters and take all necessary steps to ensure tighter control of ad settings. @LAPDHQ,” the LAPD tweeted.
We have stopped these Google Ads altogether while we reexamine our ad filters and take all necessary steps to ensure tighter control of ad settings. @LAPDHQ
— Join LAPD (@joinlapd) September 28, 2019
