Brian Taft

• Rank: Police Administrator
• Division: Personnel Division
• Email: n2766@lapd.online

Bio

Brian Taft is the Commanding Officer of Personnel Division where he oversees the human resources aspect of the 12,000 plus women and men (sworn and civilian) of the Los Angeles Police Department. As the Commanding Officer of Personnel Division, he serves as the Department’s Human Resources/Personnel Director and advises Department command staff on personnel related laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Mr. Taft is also responsible for processing and assigning all sworn and civilian personnel, conducting background investigations of all civilian personnel, processing all documents relating to sick and injured employees, administering the Department’s Return to Work Program, processing sworn employees applying for pensions, advising command staff on pandemic related policies, and maintaining all personnel and medical records of the Department.

Mr. Taft began his career with the City of Los Angeles in 2002 as an entry level management assistant doing COMPSTAT analysis for the Department’s Pacific Division. He worked his way up through the management and personnel classification series serving various City Departments. In 2015, Mr. Taft returned to the Department as a Senior Personnel Analyst in the Return to Work Section of Personnel Division. In 2022, Mr. Taft was promoted to the command staff rank of Police Administrator I as the commanding Officer of Personnel Division.

Mr. Taft received his Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Science Degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona. He graduated from the West Point Leadership Academy in 2018.

In his free time, Mr. Taft volunteers with his local Little League Baseball league, coaching his son and daughter’s baseball teams. He also volunteers with BSA Scouts, teaching merit badges for fishing, photography and environmental studies. He enjoys the outdoors, photography, and cooking when he can get away from the office.