Richard Gabaldon

• Rank: Captain III
• Division: West Los Angeles Division
• Email: 31356@lapd.online

Bio

Captain Rich Gabaldon.  A student athlete in both soccer and baseball in High School, Captain Gabaldon graduated from West Torrance High School in 1988. After High School, Captain Gabaldon received a Division II scholarship to play soccer at California State University Dominguez Hills. Captain Gabaldon played two years of soccer at Cal State Dominguez Hills before transferring after his sophomore year to the University of Southern California in 1990. Captain Gabaldon received his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Criminal Justice from USC in 1993. In 2000, Captain Gabaldon earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University Dominguez Hills.

In December of 1994, Captain Gabaldon joined the LAPD. He completed his probationary period in Pacific Division and wheeled to Southwest Division. Captain Gabaldon worked several assignments at Southwest Division including Patrol Officer, Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) officer, and was promoted to Field Training Officer. In 2000, Captain Gabaldon transferred to Metropolitan Division and was assigned to “G” Platoon. In Metropolitan Division, he worked crime suppression primarily in West Bureau, dignitary protection, crowd control during large protests, and trained department personnel on mobile field force tactics for the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

In 2002, Captain Gabaldon promoted to the rank of Sergeant at Harbor Area. Captain Gabaldon worked numerous assignments during his 10 years as a Sergeant which included Harbor Division Patrol, Special Problems Unit (SPU) and Assistant Watch Commander. Southwest Division Gang Enforcement Detail (GED) Supervisor, and Internal Affairs Group, Criminal South Section Investigator.

In 2012 Captain Gabaldon was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and transferred to Hollywood Area. At Hollywood Area, he worked as a patrol Watch Commander, and as the Officer in Charge of the Hollywood Entertainment Detail (HED) where he supervised one of the largest specialized units in the LAPD with 60 officers and 5 Sergeants.

In 2014, Captain Gabaldon was promoted to Commanding Officer of Hollywood Detectives where he supervised detectives and detective supervisors investigating crimes of Robbery, Burglary, Major Assault Crimes, Auto Crimes, Gang Crimes, and violent crimes that occurred within the HED area. Chief Moore promoted Captain Gabaldon in February of 2020 and assigned him as the Commanding Officer of North Hollywood Patrol Division.

In April 2021, Captain Gabaldon was promoted to Captain II, Assistant Commanding Officer at Force Investigation Division. In October 2021, Captain Gabaldon was promoted to Captain III, Commanding Officer of Force Investigation Division.

In July 2023, Captain Gabaldon was transferred to West Los Angeles Division, as the Area Commanding Officer.

Captain Gabaldon has attended numerous department and non-department training such as basic Metro School, AICC Instructor School, LAPD Supervisor School, Internal Affairs Investigator School, ICI Detective School, The Sherman Block Leadership Institute, Post Management School, and Command Development School. Captain Gabaldon is a court qualified gang expert, a certified instructor for basic and supervisor MACTAC courses, and a member of the Urban Police Rifle (UPR) Cadre.