Scott Harrelson

• Rank: Deputy Chief
• Division: Chief of Staff
• Email: scott.harrelson@lapd.online

Bio

Deputy Chief Timothy “Scott” Harrelson was born and raised in Panorama City in the San Fernando Valley.  After graduating from St. Genevieve High School, Deputy Chief Harrelson began studying Kinesiology at the California State University Northridge.  Upon graduation, he moved to the San Diego area where he worked as a stockbroker for over five years.  Desiring to follow his childhood dream of becoming a Los Angeles Police Officer, Deputy Chief Harrelson decided to make a career change and entered the Los Angeles Police Academy in 1995.

As a police officer, Deputy Chief Harrelson worked a variety of assignments to include patrol, gang enforcement, narcotics enforcement, and as a field training officer.  One of his highlights as a police officer was when he was assigned as the Senior Lead Officer in the community of Panorama City where he was raised.

In 2003, he promoted to sergeant and worked assignments including patrol, bicycle unit OIC, community relations OIC, and Internal Affairs; both as an investigator and later as the Adjutant to the Captain of Internal Affairs.  Deputy Chief Harrelson promoted to lieutenant in 2011, and worked as a watch commander, the Lieutenant-in-Charge of the Valley Crime Task Force, and finally as the Detective Commanding Officer at Topanga Community Police Station.

When Deputy Chief Harrelson promoted to Captain in December 2016, he was assigned as the Patrol Commanding Officer at Central Community Police Station in downtown Los Angeles.  In 2018, he was promoted to Captain III and served as the Area Commanding Officer of Security Services Division, and then in January 2019, Deputy Chief Harrelson was selected to return to Central Community Police Station as the Area Commanding Officer.  In April 2021, he was promoted to the Staff Officer rank of Commander and assigned as the Assistant to the Director, Office of Operations.  In March 2022, Deputy Chief Harrelson was selected as the Department’s Employee Relations Administrator.  In January of 2024, Deputy Chief Harrelson was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief and appointed as the Chief of Staff.

Deputy Chief Harrelson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from California State University of Northridge, and a Master’s degree in Leadership from the University of Southern California.  His academic journey also includes graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, the FBI National Academy, and the Senior Management Institute for Police.

Deputy Chief Harrelson holds California POST Certificates for the Basic, Advanced, Supervisory, and Management levels.  He is also a member of several law enforcement associations including the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County, the Police Executive Research Forum, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the FBI National Academy Associates.