LAPD Announces Promotions and Movement of Command Staff effective April 1, 2008

March 12, 2008

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Chief announces the promotion of three new LAPD Captains and reassignment of members of his Command Staff. The promotion and the reassignment are effective April 1, 2008.

On March 12, 2008 Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton announced the promotions of three new Captains to the Department’s Command Staff. Among the promotions, the first Latina Captain in the Department’s history, and the promotion of a 20-year veteran who is a Japanese American.

“I am pleased to promote into the ranks of the Command Staff, three individuals who are all truly deserving of this honor,” said Chief Bratton. “Each have worked hard and prepared themselves to take on the responsibility of a leadership role in the organization.”

Lieutenant II Tina Nieto is being promoted to Captain I. She becomes the first Latina Captain in the Department’s history. Nieto will be assigned to Hollenbeck Area as the Patrol Captain. Nieto was born and raised in Southern California. She has served as the Officer in Charge at Audit Division, a District Lieutenant in Hollywood Division, a Watch Commander in Pacific Division, and has patrol experience in Pacific and Hollywood Division. Nieto also served eight years with the United States Army Reserve as a commissioned officer, leaving at the rank of Captain. Nieto has taught the West Point Leadership Program, has been a guest speaker at Leadership Conferences, and currently instructs for the Supervisory Leadership Institute, a program designed to enhance law enforcement supervisor’s personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making. Nieto is currently completing her Masters Degree from the University of La Verne in the area of Leadership and Management. She has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton, is a Certified Fraud Specialist (CFS) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Lieutenant II Duane Hayakawa is also promoting to the position of Captain I and will be assigned as the Patrol Captain to Mission Area. Hayakawa was born in Los Angeles, California, and was raised in the city of Downey where he graduated from Downey High School in 1979. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Cerritos College, his Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the California State University at Fullerton, and his Master of Business Administration degree from the California State University at Long Beach. Hayakawa joined the Department in 1988 and has worked a variety of patrol and administrative assignments. He is also a graduate of the Supervisory Leadership Institute, West Point Leadership Program, and the FBI National Academy.

Promoting to Captain I and being assigned to Central Area as the Patrol Captain, is Lieutenant II Rick Wall. Lieutenant Wall joined the Department in 1981. As a police officer, he worked patrol, Major Crimes, Vice, and Training Division as a Field Training Officer during which time he was awarded the Police Medal. Additionally, Lieutenant Wall served as an instructor in the Crisis Intervention Unit. He has worked as a Detective in Narcotics Group, Southwest and the Office of the Chief of Police, Inspection and Control Section. As a Sergeant Wall worked Rampart Patrol, and Pacific Division’s Beach Detail, where he was awarded his second Police Medal. He continued to work as a sergeant assigned as an Assistant Watch Commander, Employee Relations Investigator, and Internal Affairs. Upon his promotion to Lieutenant in 2001, he was assigned to Pacific Division as a Watch Commander. In 2002, Lt. Wall was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and spent six months studying law enforcement ethics in England at the National Police Staff College, Bramshill. While attending Bramshill, Lt. Wall also completed the Family Liaison Course and the International Commanders’ Programme. In 2003, Lt. Wall was assigned as the Project Manager for the Department’s Mental Illness Project, tasked with identifying, developing, and implementing “best practices” for law enforcement responses to persons suffering from mental illnesses.

Other Department promotions include:

Commander Terry Hara, currently assigned to Employee Relations Group, promoting to Deputy Chief assigned to West Bureau.

Captain III Jose Perez, currently assigned to Northeast Area will be promoting to Commander assigned to the Employee Relations Group.

UPGRADES

Captain II John Incontro, currently assigned to Training Division, will be upgraded to Captain III remaining at Training Division.

Captain II Joseph Mariani, currently assigned to Recruitment and Employment Division, will be upgraded to Captain III remaining at Recruitment and Employment Division.

Captain II Jerilyn Weinstein, currently assigned to Professional Standards Bureau will be upgraded to Captain III assigned to the Ombuds Office.

Captain I Thomas Brascia, currently assigned to Hollywood Area, will be upgraded to Captain II assigned to Professional Standards Bureau.

Captain I Eric Davis, currently assigned to the Office of Operations, will be upgraded to Captain III assigned to Wilshire Area.

Captain I Michelle Veenstra, currently assigned to Central Area, will be upgraded to Captain II assigned to Training Division.
REASSIGNMENTS

Deputy Chief Charles Beck, currently assigned to Operations-South Bureau will be reassigned to Detective Bureau.

Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner, currently assigned to Operations-West Bureau will be reassigned to Operations-South Bureau.

Commander David Doan, currently assigned to Detective Bureau will be reassigned to Operations-Central Bureau.

Commander Patrick Gannon, currently assigned to Operations-South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide Group will be reassigned to Detective Bureau.

Commander Andrew Smith, currently assigned to Operations-Central Bureau will be reassigned to Operations-South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide Group.

Commander Harlan Ward, currently assigned to Detective Bureau will be reassigned to Operations-Valley Bureau.

Captain III William Murphy, currently assigned to Training Division, will be reassigned to Northeast Area.

Captain I Todd Chamberlain, currently assigned to Hollenbeck Area will be reassigned to Rampart Area.

Captain I Beatrice Girmala, currently assigned to Devonshire Area will be reassigned to Hollywood Area.

Captain I Thomas McDonald, currently assigned to Rampart Area will be reassigned to Southeast Area.

Captain I Kelly Mulldorfer, currently assigned to Southeast Area will be reassigned to Van Nuys Area.

Captain I Stephen Ruiz, currently assigned to Van Nuys Area will be reassigned to Devonshire Area.

Captain I William Scott, currently assigned to Mission Area will be reassigned to the Office of Operations.