Long Beach Police Department Cmdr. Josef Levy
Photo courtesy of LBPD
8:26pm | A Long Beach Police Department commander has been selected by the Anti-Defamation League for recognition for his commitment to combating extremism, hatred and bigotry and making a positive impact on his community.
Cmdr. Josef Levy has for the last two decades provided human relations and hate crimes training throughout the nation, educating thousands of law enforcement and education professionals on issues surrounding hate crimes, cultural diversity and racial profiling, according to information provided by LBPD spokeswoman Lisa Massacani.
Levy regularly speaks on the local, state, federal and international level and has trained delegations from Canada, France, Germany and Russia, she said.
The league will honor Levy on Wednesday with the Helene and Joseph Sherwood Prize for Combating Hate, an award that each year goes to a law enforcement officer who has shown commitment to the cause and his or her community, during its annual Helene and Joseph Sherwood Prize Luncheon.
A 26-year veteran of the police department, Levy rose through the ranks and was promoted to his current position as commander in June 2010. He is currently assigned to the West Patrol Division.
An early pioneer in LBPD’s Human Relations training program, Levy is a staunch supporter of police and youth dialogues. He is a volunteer trainer for the city of Long Beach’s Human Dignity Program, which trains community leaders in hate crime response. Additionally, Levy is credited with helping to dismantle stereotypes in some of Long Beach’s toughest neighborhoods and working to improve relations between the department and the community.
“This year’s honorees exemplify the importance of protecting our communities while at the same time respecting our constitutional rights and our commitment to seek justice and fair treatment for all,” said Amanda Susskind, director of ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region, in a prepared statement. “We have a unique partnership with the law enforcement community, working together on hate incidents and hate crimes, extremist and terrorist threats and sharing intelligence about haters.”
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell dubbed Levy a “true humanitarian.”
“Commander Levy exemplifies the finest in what a true humanitarian does,” McDonnell said. “He has a true passion and commitment for improving human relations that is reflected through his many years of service, and that is highly commendable.”
Wednesday’s luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m at the Skirball Cultural Center, which is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles. Event and ticket information can be obtained by calling the Anti-Defamation League at 310-446-8000 or by visiting its website at ADL.org.