The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) has a new deputy chief and commander, City Manager Pat West and Chief Robert Luna announced today.
According to a release issued this morning, LBPD Commander Richard Conant has been promoted to deputy chief, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Deputy Chief Richard Rocchi. Meanwhile, Lt. Steve Lauricella has been promoted to position of commander.
“Richard Conant and Steve Lauricella display dedication and leadership skills at the highest levels and will be assets to our leadership team,” said Chief Luna in a statement. “They are fully engaged with our community partners and embrace our department’s core values of ethics, intelligence, and respect.”
Conant began his career with the LBPD in 1991, as an officer. He was promoted in 2006 to sergeant, followed by appointments to lieutenant in 2011 and commander in 2015.
“Richard Conant is a great choice to serve as Deputy Chief of Police,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement. “His integrity, experience, and commitment to the community are well known, and I am confident he will serve the people of Long Beach with excellence.”
Conant’s work history includes positions within the Patrol, Gang Enforcement, Homicide, S.W.A.T., Directed Enforcement and Internal Affairs divisions. Most
recently, conant was chief of staff to the chief of police. He has completed training at the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, FBI Crisis Negotiation Team Leadership training and is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach Institute, class of 2015.
“I’m excited to begin this new opportunity,” said Deputy Chief Conant in a statement. “My central goal, in collaboration with our community and City partners, is to advance and strengthen the department’s strategic vision and core values.”
Lauricella began his career in Long Beach as a reserve officer in 1988, before being hired as a full-time officer in 1990, according to the release. He was promoted to sergeant in 1997 and lieutenant in 2013.
Lauricella’s work history includes positions within the Internal Affairs, Patrol, Field Training Officer, Special Victims Section, Domestic Violence, Gang Detail, Field Training Program Coordinator, Office of the Police, Sex Crime Investigations and the Warrant/Labor Relations Detail. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement Education from the University Massachusetts, Amherst and a master’s degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California. He is also a graduate of the Sherman Block Institute and the Peace Officer Standard and Training Management Course, according to the release, in addition to teaching as an adjunct faculty member at the Museum of Tolerance and the Law Enforcement Tools for Tolerance Program.
Above, left: Deputy Chief Richard Conant. Photos courtesy of the LBPD.
Right: Commander Steve Lauricella.