Craig Valenzuela

• Rank: Commander
• Group: Traffic Group
• Email: 33440@lapd.online

Bio

Commander Craig Valenzuela is a native Angeleno, growing up in Harbor Division. After graduating from Narbonne High School, Commander Valenzuela continued his higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1996. Commander Valenzuela later earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California Price School of Policy, Planning and Development.

Commander Valenzuela began his career with the Los Angeles Police Department in September of 1996, and as a Police Officer completed tours at West Valley, Wilshire, Detective Headquarters where he worked as a SMART officer, and Management Services Divisions.

In 2002, Commander Valenzuela promoted to Sergeant I and was assigned to Central Division where he worked a variety of assignments, and thereafter transferred to Newton Division as a patrol supervisor. In 2005, he was selected to work Internal Affairs Group as a Sergeant II in the Advocate Section. In 2007, he was selected for an assignment as an Aide in the office of The First Assistant Chief. Following his time as a Chief’s Aide, Commander Valenzuela served as an Assistant Watch Commander at 77th Street Patrol Division, and after a short time became the Officer-in-Charge of the 77th Vice Unit.

In 2013, Commander Valenzuela promoted to Lieutenant I and was assigned to West Traffic and West Valley Divisions as a Watch Commander. In 2014, he was selected for a Lieutenant II assignment as a Watch Commander at Communications Division, and soon after was tapped to be the Assistant Commanding Officer. Commander Valenzuela was selected to return to Internal Affairs Group in 2015 where he worked as the Department Advocate until his promotion to Captain in August of 2018. Commander Valenzuela was assigned to North Hollywood Patrol Division as the Commanding Officer. In March 2019, Commander Valenzuela was transferred to Metropolitan Division as the Assistant Commanding Officer. In 2022, Commander Valenzuela promoted to the rank of Commander and became the Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-Valley Bureau.

Commander Valenzuela has graduated from the Sherman Block Leadership Program, Command Development School, and the FBI National Academy, 266th Session. He has also attained Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, and Management certificates from the California Police Officer’s Standards and Training (POST). Commander Valenzuela is a member of several professional associations, including the Police Officers Association of Los Angeles County and FBI National Academy Associates.