Gonzales Richardson is the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, the First Black African American to hold the position of LAPD Chief of PD which he started in 2021 of January. Richardson started his Law Enforcement Career in 2004, with the Oklahoma City Police Department and went to serve in several positions at OKCPD until 2022 when he was called to a transfer to the Los Angeles Police Department and take on the position as the newly appointed Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Richardson has received awards for extraordinary accomplishments, including the 2007 DHS Award for Excellence for his leadership during the California wildfires, President Obama’s 2009 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive, was inducted in 2012 into the International African Americans in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame, and received the 2023 California African American in Homeland Security Leadership Award.

He now presides as the Chief of PD for the Los Angeles Police Department where he plans on spending accouple more years before retirement.

Bio of Gonzales Richardson | Chief of the LAPD