Gerald A. Woodyard

• Rank: Deputy Chief
• Bureau: Operations-West Bureau
• Email: gerald.woodyard@lapd.online

Bio

Deputy Chief Gerald A. Woodyard was born in Mobile and is the youngest of three children. As a young child, his family moved from Alabama to Sacramento, California.

Deputy Chief Woodyard attended Long Beach State University on a football scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law Enforcement.

In 1994, Deputy Chief Woodyard joined the Los Angeles Police Department and upon graduating from the Police Academy was assigned to Southwest Division. His other assignments as a Police Officer included Northeast Division, Southeast Division and Training Division as a Physical Training and Self-Defense instructor.

In 2002, he was promoted to Sergeant. As a Sergeant, he was assigned to Harbor Division, Operations-South Bureau, and Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau.

Deputy Chief Woodyard promoted to Lieutenant in 2008 and returned to Southeast Division as a Watch Commander. In 2011, Commander Woodyard was promoted to Lieutenant II as the Officer in Charge of Community Relations Section and was responsible for identifying and fostering relationships with key stakeholders on behalf of the Chief of Police.

In January 2012, Deputy Chief Gerald Woodyard was promoted to the rank of Captain I as the Commanding Officer of Southwest Patrol Division where he was responsible for leading over 400 sworn and civilian personnel.

In September 2012, Deputy Chief Woodyard was transferred to Southeast Patrol Division where he was responsible for leading over 395 sworn and civilian personnel. In October 2013, Deputy Chief Woodyard was transferred to Harbor Area Patrol Division where he was responsible for leading over 336 sworn and civilian personnel.

Deputy Chief Woodyard was promoted to Captain III in March 2014 and was assigned the Area Commanding Officer of Harbor Area and Southwest Area.

Deputy Chief Woodyard was promoted to the rank of Commander on April 2, 2017, and was assigned as the Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-South Bureau, and subsequently assigned as the Commanding Officer, Community Engagement Group.

In 2021, Deputy Chief Woodyard was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief and assigned to Transit Services Bureau. In 2022, Deputy Chief Woodyard became the Commanding Officer, Operations-South Bureau.

Deputy Chief Woodyard is married and is the father of three children. Deputy Chief Woodyard currently resides in Riverside County and is an active member of Eastside Christian Church.