LAPD officer charged with attempting to buy an illegal gun silencer from China, officials say
- Luke Walden allegedly attempted to purchase an illegal firearm silencer in April of 2021, officials say.
- Authorities intercepted a package from China that contained a firearm silencer allegedly addressed to Walden.
An LAPD detective is facing a felony charge after authorities say he attempted to purchase a gun silencer from China.
Veteran LAPD detective Luke Walden, 48, was arrested on November 15 and charged with one count of illegally possessing a silencer, a felony in California that carries a prison sentence of up to 3 years.
Authorities launched an investigation into Walden around April 2021 after U.S Customs and Border Patrol agents allegedly intercepted a package from China that contained an illegal firearm silencer, according to a November 23 statement from LA District Attorney George Gascón.
According to the DA's office, the intercepted package was allegedly addressed to Walden.
"Any device that is intended to silence or muffle a firearm is illegal," Gascón said. "This case is especially troubling given that the accused is a senior law enforcement officer. Anyone who tries to circumvent our laws by trying to purchase such items overseas will be held accountable for their actions, no matter their profession."
Detectives from the LAPD Professional Standards Bureau arrested Walden earlier this month and called the case troubling, according to a statement by the LAPD
"Reverence for the law is an unbending expectation of each member of this department," LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore said in the statement. "The circumstances of this investigation trouble me greatly given the responsibilities of the involved detective."
In the same statement, LAPD Commission President William J. Briggs III said that the department "will not tolerate corruption at any level."
"The Board of Police Commissioners will do everything to ensure that the department operates at the highest levels of integrity," Briggs said. "The Commission will be directing the Office of the Inspector General to review the circumstances of this incident and cooperate with our state partners."
According to the statement by the DA, Walden's case remains under investigation, and he is scheduled to be arranged on December 7.