LAPD Announces Promotions And Movement Of Command Staff

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, 2025 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. Captain 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, Captain 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, Capt. 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, Capt. Wall also completed the Family Liaison Course and the International Commanders' Programme. In 2003, Capt. 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.

Comments

[Skell Seeker]

Sounds like some more "social promotions" were administered.

Hey Chief Bratton, diversity is a characteristic, not an achievement.

In LAPD, diversity is synonymous with mediocrity.

[Kim Stone]

Amazing how much more qualified you have to be these days; used to be you just had to dress left and glow in the dark... huh, Ed?

[pdhog]

Hey Chief, how about some promotions for those of us down the food chain? Better yet, make all of us captains and be done with it.

[Blu9ght]

To all the persons promoted on this list. Remember that "leadership" and "management" are not lessons learned in books or classes. Both are traits exibited only by "true" professionals- those who lead by example based on experience and wisdom gained in Patrol.

[Dave]

Oh my!! Standby for the mass exidus from Van Nuys.. It is bad enough with Capt Miller there cutting complaints against everyone..And now with that new captain coming in..Double the trouble.. Turning in my transfers ASAP!!!

[j. doe]

Why is it that the department has all this money for upgrades and promotions for the stars and bars,but can't find any for the coppers on the street.

right now p III's are riding three deep with two probationers,cause we don't have enough training officers to train all the boots coming out of the academy.

[Turth Be Told]

With the exception of a select few the promotion of Nieto, Wall and Weinstein is disgraceful. The LAPD needs leadership, not people who have NO clue what the word "Leadership" means. Good luck to all the officers at Central and Hollenbeck....you're going to need it!

[Blu9ght]

I guess the Chief thinks he put the right people on the "bus" . Too bad the "bus" has a short-sighted driver.

[Ed]

hey Chief Pay to Play assignment
How can I get in that VIP party.
Corruption in LAPD still alive.
Just remember.
Departments are build from the ground up!
And destroy from the Top Down...
Good Luck...This make me sick

[Ed]

Hey Chief you just lost "The War" with this promotions...Leadership is not there...you just got yourself a DOT Officer with an LAPD Badge...RE-CAP.= Productivity.
5200VC+ FI = 1 cite 1 fi= 2 contacts...the numbers' game.. Thank you

[Curious]

How did Chief Garner rise from Captain to Deputy Chief in only a year and a half? He must just be really good at his job!

[LA Cop & City Resident]

Just read in today's LA Times how Chief Bratton believes that SWAT is a "good old boys club." Well it takes a member of that club to know that club when they see it. That's sooo evident in Bratton's social promotion of many of these incompetent, unqualified and un-deserving command staff officers; Wall? Mulldorfer? Nieto? Ward? and Weinstein? A guy that's been admin transferred twice & caught using unnecessary overtime, a guy that wouldn't know the definition of "leadership" if it was tattoed across his lily white forehead, a woman admin transferred for her causing a hostile work enviroment at Pacific, a guy who as a Captain at 77th hid and tried to bury a casefull of 1.28's, and a female who had an onduty contact with a subordinate on trial for serious federal crimes?? What a joke; no more like a BAD dream. It's no wonder LAPD morale is in the dumps! Maybe our illustrious LAPPL Board Members (you know the men and woman we pay a premium to smooze with Department brass and City politicians) should step up to the plate and convene a vote of confidence or lack of in Chief Bratton.

[El Tecolote]

Don't fret. Many of these promotions are in line with the chief's plan to destroy the dept. It's called lowering the standards.

The Chief wants women on the SWAT team. No problem with that as long as they measure up to the standards.

Why not make an all female SWAT team. Then we can get rid of the high powered weapons and replace them with cell phones. All for the negotiations of course.

Next, throw out the tactical manuals and replace them with copies of People Magazine.

If you didn't read Playboy magazine's February 2008 article by LAPD cop hater Joe Domanick, then you truly misunderstand this chief.

The article is tiltled, "Saving Los Angeles" and details "Supercop Bill Bratton." On page 138, Bratton proudly claims to be a strong supporter of both Clintons and states, "In terms of where Hillary and her husband are on most issues, that's where I am."

Now for you blockheads who still don't see the big picture. The Clintons are known for many things but being pro law enforcement is not one of them.

[Hugh's Alter Ego]

El Tecolote: Right on! Standards and merit are what should always matter, not political correctness or a certain so-called Chief's political aspiration. I'm shocked and offended by your revelation that Chief Bratton was in Playboy Magazine last month. Didn't IAG go after our beloved "Arresting Officer Ginger" when she was in the SAME magazine? And didn't the feminist officers on the LAPD bash Ginger because they believed Playboy Magazine degraded women? Sounds like Bratton's appearance in Playboy was MISCONDUCT. What are you going to do about that Police Commission? It's not a big surprise that the meter maid from Boston's heroes are Bill & Hillary Clinton. PERJURY, ADULTRY, USE OF THE CRIMINAL & ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO TARGET THE INNOCENT, MANAGEMENT THROUGH FEAR & INTIMIATION and STAGING MURDERS TO LOOK LIKE SUICIDE are all right up Bratton's alley! Rumor has it that some members of Bratton's illustrious command staff have now turned against him and have filed lawsuits. Rumor has it that Bratton is going to get a Wanking in the near future too! So stand fast respected SWAT Officers, the day of reckoning for the LAPD is approaching!

[need to know]

Hugh's Alter Ego, Please elaborate.

"STAGING MURDERS TO LOOK LIKE SUICIDE ..."

was this an officer?

[Hugh's Alter Ego]

Need to Know: The murder staged as suicide happened in Washington DC. Hillary Clinton's supposed lover, lawyer Vince Foster, found dead with bullet to the head. If you google Foster's name you can read all about it. The moral of the post is that if Chief Bratton likens himself to the Clinton's, then perjury, adultry, threats & intimidation (just ask Commander Kim & Ibarra about that) become part of his legacy. Rumor has it Clinton promised Bratton the FBI Director or Homeland Security Director job if she's President. Good for LAPD troops but bad for the US. In a way we can only hope it plays out this way so Bratton can be scrutinzed by the Senate at public confirmation hearings. God willing, Officer Wank (NHWD)will be called to testify at the hearing and will blow the lid off Bratton and his dual life.

[It's the End of the LAPD (And I Feel Fine)]

WE HAVE BEEN DEFEATED

It stings.

It's hard to swallow.

It's hard to fathom.

It's hard to say.

The bad guys have won.

Evil has won over Good.

We have been defeated.

We have been defeated by the Liberal's that occupy this City and question every move we make.

We have been defeated by the Lawyers that have taken away our ability to do our job effectively.

We have been defeated by the perps that now outnumber us and a public that is unwilling to take a stand against them.

We have been defeated by our lack of manpower.

We have been defeated by two Mayors, that hit back to back homeruns across our faces. First knocking us down with empty promises while robbing our pockets blind, then kicking us while we were down by denying the very basic things we need to survive.

We have been defeated by our fearless leader, one that appoints one useless "panel" after another and will never give us the support we need.

We have defeated ourselves, unwilling to become one and stand up together.

Today's article and recent events confirm all this. We are defeated.

We should be proud though. For more than 150 years, we fought the good fight. No other standing army in the History of Man has lasted 150 years on the brink of defeat only to survive to fight another day and another day and another day.

Our fathers, brothers, mothers, sisters, uncles, cousins and friends did an unbelievable job. We held the criminals off at the gates for more than 150 years. No one has the right to be as proud as us.

But today is not another day. We have been done in finally. By those that depend on us. By those that loathe us. By those that love us. By those that pay us.

Be proud brothers and sisters. Be very proud. We did the best we could and more.

Never forget the sacrifices made. Never forget the ultimate sacrifices made.

Remember this day LA. You have defeated the LAPD.

Celebrate like there is no tomorrow. Because without us, there is no tomorrow........

As they celebrate like there is no tomorrow, lets remember there is no tomorrow for us either....

Lets do our job till the very last one of us is left.

[pdhog]

Officers didn't stage suicides...there is a lot of info on the internet concerning people around the Clintons who "died" from "apparent" suicides. One was the wife of one of the Arkansas State Troopers who ratted on Billy as to being directed to deliver women to him. All of the "crimes" he listed were proported to the Clintons. Read a post before you run off half cocked thinking it's those "bad ol' cops"...you are probably a member of the groups who think everthing is a police conspiracy.

[smart 1]

Hey Need to Know, "STAGING MURDERS TO LOOK LIKE SUICIDE ..." is referring to the Clintons...duh!

[5th Floor]

Remember when our job was to protect the Citizens of Los Angeles. Now we bow and worship "COMSTAT" @ $100,000 per meeting

[P-2 Dog]

El Tecolote,

As a female officer I take offense to your comment about what SWAT would turn into if females were there. I do agree that considering the heavy equipment and physical demands placed on SWAT that NO ONE should be held to a lower standard to get in. I am capable of pulling full grown male officers in full gear to safety despite my gender.

Don't take it out on us because of command staff's dangerous decisions.

[Jeff]

Promotions:

Once again the top keep getting heavier. We have patrol dogs suffering because of brass tactics. We need officers in the field. In stead Bratton keeps taking troops out of patrol. If Bratton really cared about the citizens of Los Angeles he would fill every A-Car in the city 24 hours 7 days a week. We have always done more with less, its time the patrol officers revolt back, how about a work slow down guys. We are now turning into a polictal puppet department, all promotions now are based on gender and race. Just look out they put out the bio on the captains recntly, First latina, japenesse , Who cares what there background or race as long as they are qualified.

[Jeff]

Lies

Bratton needs to stop lying to the citizens. There is a race war, Its been going on in the public schools since the 90's. Brown Vs Black. Now the gangs are killing each other for the same reasons. Wake up Chief.

[El Tecolote]

P-2 Dog,

The intent of my post was to draw attention to the Chief's plan on lowering the entry requirements and standards.

I have worked with enough females to know that there are certainly a number of highly capable and qualified women who carry out the duties of a law enforcement officer, day in and day out.

Many of these women are "in the trenches" with the men and would be insulted by lowering the standards.

[Boys Gone Wild]

The real LAPD is cooked people. Bratton & his liberal (same thing as progressive billy bob) buddies have doomed the city to being a crime den. And u wonder why none of us coppers live in LA? A cesspool is a cesspool...be it Parker Center, City Hall or Holly Oak Drive!!!!!