Michael Oreb

• Rank: Deputy Chief
• Bureau: Operations-Central Bureau
• Email: mike.oreb@lapd.online

Bio

Deputy Chief Michael Oreb was born and raised in San Pedro, California, graduating from San Pedro High School in 1982. He comes from a long line of Los Angeles Police Officers: His great-grandfather (John G. Magness) was killed in the line of duty in 1920 while working University Division (now known as Southwest Area); his great-uncle (Zack P. Magness) retired from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as a Captain of Detectives, and two other uncles retired in the late 1960s after lengthy and successful LAPD careers.

Upon completion of the LAPD Academy in September 1986, he was assigned as a probationary officer to Southeast Patrol. He was next assigned to Central Traffic Division where he worked as an Accident Investigator. In 1990, he transferred to Newton Patrol where he promoted to Police Officer III, Field Training Officer. From there, he went to Central Patrol where he was assigned as a Field Training Officer for the next five years.

In 1996, he promoted to Sergeant and worked as a Patrol Field Supervisor at both Southeast and Newton Areas. Next, he promoted to Sergeant II as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Hollenbeck Area Vice. After a year and a half at Hollenbeck Area Vice, Commander Oreb transferred to Internal Affairs where he worked as an investigator until he promoted to Lieutenant in 2006.

He was assigned to Hollywood Area as a Patrol Watch Commander and in March 2008, Commander Oreb took over as the OIC of the Hollywood Area Gang Impact Team (GIT). For the next three years, Hollywood Area achieved a 73% reduction in gang-related crime under his leadership. As a result, Commander Oreb and Hollywood GIT were awarded the Department’s Meritorious Unit Citation. From there, he was assigned as the Commanding Officer of Hollywood Detectives.

In January 2012, he was promoted to Captain at Central Area and remained there until 2016. During his time at Central Area, he developed community partnerships within the Skid Row community, assisted in the creation of homeless outreach strategies to incorporate internal and external programs with Operation Healthy Streets, and successfully hosted the pilot program for body worn video.

In 2016, he was transferred to Harbor Area and was warmly greeted by the community where he was raised. His extensive knowledge of the area, close ties to the community, and innovative strategies resulted in leading the city in crime reduction. Those strategies included Community Cyber Watch, Harbor Community on Patrol (HCOP), and Operation Early Warning. His efforts also resulted in being given the Excellence in Leadership award. He briefly served as the commanding officer of Internal Affairs Administrative Division, in 2018, and was then promoted to Commander at Transit Services Group. In December 2020, he was selected as the Department’s Employee Relations Administrator.

Commander Oreb earned a Bachelor’s Degree, in Occupational Studies, and a Master’s Degree, in Emergency Services, from California State University, Long Beach. He is a graduate of the LAPD West Point Leadership Institute, a member of the Police Officers Association of Los Angeles County (POALAC), and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

He and his wife, Linda, have twin sons.