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The Department

The City of Hermosa Beach was incorporated in 1907. The police department had a small and varied start with one employee first noted in city records as E.L. Ferriel the city Marshall in 1908. Marshall Ferriel was elected to the position with a total of 88 votes. Other dates recorded showed the following:
J.K. Mills was elected the town Marshall in 1910 with 66 votes.
Chester Palmer was listed as the town Marshall in 1911.
Arthur Marshall was paid $75.00 a month as a "Night Watchman" on April 15, 1918.
W.W. "Buck" Gipson was the City Marshall and paid $150 a month on April 18, 1922.
William A. Stiles was the City Marshall on March 20, 1923.
E.L. Messinger was listed as the City Marshall on April 19, 1926.
The population in 1926 was 6500.
2 officers standing in front of cars

Chiefs of Police:

D.L. Evans
1937
Chief Evans enlists in Navy and Hollie Murray becomes Acting Chief of Police
1942
F.L. "Jack" Harlow
1947
William H. Berlin
1957 to 1975
Claude G. Stonier
1975 to 1981
Frank Beeson
1982 to 1987
Steve Wisniewski (Public Safety Director)
1987 to 1992
Valentine Straser
1992 to 2001
Michael Lavin
2001 to 2006
Greg Savelli
2006 to 2012
The police department is currently authorized 39 sworn personnel. Our department has a Chief of Police, one Captain, two Lieutenants, eight Sergeants, and twenty-seven officers. The department has assignments in detectives, traffic, patrol, backgrounds and training, internal affairs, Community Lead Program and Narcotics K-9. We have volunteer programs, which include a Chaplain, Crisis Response Team, and Volunteers in Policing.
The City of Hermosa Beach has a mile and a half of beach which brings thousands to our city to enjoy the dining and entertainment areas downtown. Officers are assigned to events that include beach volleyball, concerts on the beach, surf festival, Hermosa Arts Fair, and the Hermosa Triathlon. The two biggest events are on the 4th of July and New Years. The entire department is deployed on these days.

Medal of Valor Receipients:

William Cavenaugh
1979
James Chizmar
1982
Mark Wright
1986
Thomas Eckert
1986
John Kearin
1986
Kurt Michel
1995
Dana M. Reinhardt
1995

Distinguished Service Award Recipients:

Thomas Thompson
2005
Dean Garkow
2013
Josh Droz
2013