Brian Wendling

• Rank: Captain III
• Division: West Valley Division
• Email: 26929@lapd.online

Bio

Captain Brian Wendling was born in Bremerhaven, Germany in 1962 while his father was serving in the United States Army. After his Father’s enlistment was up, he and the family moved to the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, including Glenwood, Illinois, and  neighboring Dyer, Indiana. His father worked for Republic Steel in Chicago; however, in 1979, he was promoted and transferred to  work in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1980 Brian graduated from Avon Lake High School, having attended three high schools in three separate
states.

Brian attended Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio; however, in 1982, he enlisted in the United States Army. He attended Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He was assigned
to 3/60 9th Infantry Division, at Fort Lewis, Washington. After completing his first assignment, he was reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 81st Field Artillery Unit in Neu Ulm, West Germany. In August 1985, Brian was honorably discharged from the Army.

Brian moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in August 1985, where he attended the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and focused his career interests in law enforcement. While attending college, he enjoyed the many hunting and fishing opportunities that Alaska offered.

Using the Veteran’s Education and Assistance Program (VEAP) Brian worked his way through college as a campus security officer. He graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Justice, with a minor in Business Administration. He completed a brief stint as a State of Alaska Correctional Officer in Juneau, Alaska; however, he wanted to pursue a career in in law enforcement.

In June 1989, Brian began his career with the Los Angeles Police Department. Brian worked a variety of assignments including, Patrol, Traffic, Crime Analysis, Gangs and Internal Affairs. He had been a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)/Instructor, a training officer, a sergeant and was promoted to lieutenant in 2008. He was a watch commander at both North Hollywood and Foothill Patrol Divisions. In 2014, He was promoted to Lieutenant II and ran a very productive investigative unit of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Internal Affairs Group for two years.

In 2017, Brian promoted to the rank of Captain and was assigned to West Los Angeles Patrol Division where he had worked previously as a training officer. In January 2019, he was assigned to Foothill Patrol Division where he had previously worked as a gang/patrol
sergeant and patrol watch commander.

Brian and his wife Julie met in 1990 and they were married in 1995. They have one son, Brian Patrick and two daughters, Alyssa and Addison.