Photos by Brian Addison.
Deputy Police Chief Robert Luna has been selected as the new police chief of the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), officials announced today.
Effective November 21, Luna will replace current Chief Jim McDonnell, who was recently elected as Los Angeles County sheriff.
As McDonnell’s right-hand man and second in command, Luna said he often had to maintain a hard demeanor, but today gave him a reason to let loose.
“I really have to focus on trying to smile,” said Luna, who has worked different positions at the LBPD for 29 years, including 13 years in executive management. “I’m used to being the guy next to the guy, and today I get to loosen up and smile a little bit.”
Luna, who currently serves as deputy chief in charge of patrol since 2006 and previously served as Patrol Bureau Deputy Chief, was a contender in 2010 when the city hired McDonnell, who worked at the Los Angeles Police Department.
Luna, the 26th Chief of Police, said he has a passion for his profession, the LBPD and the city of Long Beach in general.
“Together, we will be carrying a great tradition,” he said. “The community is our greatest asset. It will be an absolute privilege to lead the men and women of this police department.”
Luna also acknowledged the other candidates for chief, including Deputy Chief of Police Laura Farinella and Investigations Bureau Deputy Chief David Hendricks.
Long Beach City Manager Pat West selected Luna as chief, and said it was the right decision.
“Long Beach has a chief who is the best of the best,” he said. “He’s been with the department through periods of growth, but he’s also been through some difficult times of reduction driven by the recent recession. Chief Luna has earned the respect of peers and subordinates for constantly displaying the highest levels of integrity and passion, and creating an environment of commitment to duty, service and community engagement.”
Luna led the creation of several new police details, West said, as well as the development and implementation of the community-oriented public safety philosophy, which promotes partnerships between the community, city departments and solve neighborhood problems.
“Chief Luna will lead this organization to new heights of professionalism, community policing and customer service,” West said. “I am confident that he is the police leader of tomorrow, addressing the ever-changing nature of police work while working with all of our departments to use the resources we have to make Long Beach America’s safest large city.”
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia added that he believes Luna has a “level of compassion we can all be proud of.”
“We believe he has demonstrated an incredible capacity to lead, a commitment of compassion, and an understanding of community and what it takes to be a police officer,” Garcia said.
McDonnell served four-and-a-half years as LBPD police chief, and will hand his title down to Luna on November 21 at a swearing-in ceremony.