LAPD Announces Promotions and Movement of Command Staff effective March 1, 2009

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Chief announces the promotion of two new LAPD Commanders, three new Captains and the reassignment of several members of his Command Staff.  The promotions and the reassignments are effective March 1, 2009.

In an effort to continue to reduce crime in the City of Los Angeles, and achieve an overall reduction of gang crime by 15% this year, Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton has promoted Captains Jorge Villegas and Mike Williams to Commander.

Commander Williams has been a police officer for over 32 years and has a varied law enforcement background, which includes patrol, detectives and administrative functions within the Los Angeles Police Department.  Commander Williams joined the Los Angeles Police Department in February 1978 after having served as a police officer in a local suburban police department.  Since joining the Los Angeles Police Department Commander Williams has worked as a patrol officer, training officer, vice investigator, homicide detective, field supervisor, watch commander and Internal Affairs Division investigator and section head.  He has also supervised various administrative functions within the Office of the Chief of Police.  Specifically, some of his operational assignments have included Southeast and Hollywood Patrol Divisions, Pacific Area Vice, Organized Crime Investigation Division, Metropolitan Division, West Bureau CRASH (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums), Southwest Area Homicide, Air Support Division and Special Investigation Section.  Commander Williams becomes the Department’s new Strategic Operations Commander, working out of Operations Bureau.  He will be tasked with developing immediate rapid response strategies to deal with gang crime.

Commander Villegas was appointed to the Department on March 27, 1989.  His most recent assignment was as the Commanding Officer of Mission Area where he oversaw approximately 250 employees and all Area, Patrol and Detective operations. During his tenure, he has worked in many capacities, including patrol, narcotics, gangs, detectives, and in administration. His enforcement-oriented assignments include Hollywood, Rampart, Northeast and Van Nuys Patrol. He has also worked at Juvenile Division, the Office of Operations, Management Services Division, Operations-Central Bureau, and Detective Bureau. He has been the recipient of numbers internal and external commendations, and he has been awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation.  Commander Villegas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Organizational Management from Azusa Pacific University.  Commander Villegas has graduated from the Delinquency Control Institute at the University of Southern California, the FBI National Academy, and the West Point Leadership Development Program.  Commander Villegas’ time in the Valley will be a benefit to him as he begins his new assignment as Assistant Commanding Officer Valley Bureau.

PROMOTIONS

Lieutenant II David Hanczuk, currently assigned to Teams II Development Division, will be promoted to Captain I and assigned to Devonshire Division.

Lieutenant II Daryl Russell, currently assigned to Internal Affairs Administrative Investigation Division, will be promoted to Captain I and assigned to Central Area.

Lieutenant II Ray Maltez, currently assigned to Personnel Division, will be promoted to
Captain I and assigned to Rampart Area.
UPGRADES

Captain II Regina Scott, currently assigned to Gang Narcotic Division, will be upgraded to Captain III and assigned to Communications Division.

Captain I Bill Scott, currently assigned as the Special Assistant Office of Operations, will be upgraded to Captain III Mission Area.

Captain I Justin Eisenberg, currently assigned as the Patrol Captain at Newton Area, will be upgraded to Captain II assigned to the Gang Narcotic Division.

Captain I Steve Ruiz, currently assigned as the Patrol Captain at Devonshire Area, will be upgraded to Captain III assigned to Rampart Area.

REASSIGNMENTS

Captain III Kevin McClure, currently assigned to Civil Rights Integrity Division, will be reassigned to Robbery-Homicide Division.

Captain III Jodi Wakefield, currently assigned to Central Area, will be reassigned to Civil Rights Integrity Division.

Captain III Blake Chow, currently assigned to Hollenbeck Area, will be reassigned to Central Area.

Captain III Anita Ortega, currently assigned to Communications Division, will be reassigned to Hollenbeck Area.

Captain III Jim Miller, currently assigned to Van Nuys Area, will be reassigned to Air Support Division.

Captain III Bill Eaton, currently assigned to West Los Angeles Area, will be reassigned to Van Nuys Area.

Captain III James Craig, currently assigned to Southwest Area, will be reassigned West Los Angeles Area.

Captain III Steve Zipperman, currently assigned to West Valley Area, will be reassigned to Southwest Area.

Captain III John Egan, currently assigned to Rampart Area, will be reassigned to West Valley Area.

Captain I Paul Hernandez, currently assigned to Rampart Area, will be reassigned to Hollenbeck.

Captain I Tina Nieto, currently assigned to Hollenbeck Area, will be reassigned to Newton Area.

Captain I Ruben De La Torre, currently assigned to Pacific Area, will be reassigned to West Los Angeles Area.

Captain I James West, currently assigned to West Los Angeles Area, will be reassigned to Pacific Area.

Captain I Dave Lindsey, currently assigned to Harbor Area, will be reassigned to Northeast Area.

Captain I Rick Wall, currently assigned to Central Area, will be reassigned to Harbor Area.

Captain I Greg Allen, currently assigned to 77th Area, will be reassigned to Special Assistant, Office of Operations.

Captain I Lance Smith, currently assigned to Northeast will be reassigned to 77th Area.