Deputy Chief Beatrice Girmala to Lead the Office of Special Operations NR16119an

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck Promotes Deputy Chief Beatrice Girmala to Lead the Office of Special Operations as its New Assistant Chief Chief Girmala will serve as the highest ranking female officer in the LAPD

Los Angeles: LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has promoted Deputy Chief Beatrice Girmala to the rank of Assistant Chief of Police to lead the Office of Special Operations. Chief Girmala is currently the Commanding Officer for Operations West Bureau and will be taking over the command of OSO upon the retirement of First Assistant Chief of Police Earl Paysinger later this year.

Chief Girmala is a 30-year veteran of the LAPD and will serve as the highest ranking female officer in the Department. She will also be the first woman to lead the Office of Special Operations. The Office of Special Operations includes LAPD’s Counterterrorism and Special Operations Bureau, Detectives Bureau, and Property, Custodial Services, and Security Services Divisions.

As Deputy Chief of West Bureau she is currently responsible for the geographic areas of Hollywood, Wilshire, West Los Angeles, Olympic, Pacific, LAX and West Traffic Divisions. She previously served as the Commander of the Department’s Employee Relations Group and the Commanding Officer of Hollywood Area. She also serves as the Department’s Liaison to the LGBTQ community and led the LAPD’s domestic violence prevention and awareness programs. Before being promoted to a command officer, she served a variety of operations, investigative, and administrative assignments as a police officer, sergeant and lieutenant.

“Chief Girmala has worked tirelessly to reduce crime and enhance the public’s trust in the LAPD,” said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. “Her diverse experience and proven leadership makes her an ideal choice to lead the Office of Special Operations. I am very proud of her accomplishments and have every confidence that she will do an excellent job leading the men and women of OSO and the critical work they do every day to keep LA safe.”

“I have great admiration for Bea from my time on City Council, when we worked together to serve residents in and around Hollywood. She brings to her new position the dedication and knowledge of a lifelong Angeleno, and I know how deeply she appreciates the multitude of cultures and backgrounds that make Los Angeles our most vibrant city,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Chief Girmala is a life-long resident of Los Angeles and attended school in the Hollywood area, graduating from Immaculate Heart High School. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and has completed numerous law enforcement-related educational programs.