The LAPD used gang enforcement officers to police Straight Outta Compton's premiere

Promotional poster for "Straight Outta Compton" movie
(Image credit: Facebook.com/Straight Outta Compton)

It was a star-studded red carpet like any other, with one notable exception: The security detail was Los Angeles gang enforcement officers.

Straight Outta Compton premiered Monday night in downtown L.A. with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Zayn Malik, Kendrick Lamar, and other recognizable faces in attendance. However, perhaps due to the film's subject — Straight Outta Compton is a biopic about the 1980s rap group, N.W.A. — the LAPD not only tripled their security at the event, but they threw in the gang unit, too.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.