Photo: Costa Mesa Police Department
COSTA MESA (CNS) - The Costa Mesa Police Department announced Thursday it has selected Ron Lawrence to serve as its new chief.
Chief Lawrence led the Citrus Heights Police Department since 2016, and has served in law enforcement for 31 years. He will be sworn in as the Chief of Police at the regular City Council Meeting on Sept. 7.
“I am excited to lead the Costa Mesa Police Department and build upon the legacy Chief Bryan Glass and so many other chiefs who have shaped the organization's culture,'' said Chief Lawrence. “The men and women of the police department are well-respected, highly skilled professionals and I am fortunate to be a part of creating a bright future alongside them.''
Lawrence has held many assignments in law enforcement including court bailiff, jail deputy, patrol officer, field training officer, motorcycle officer, traffic officer, street crimes and vice officer, internal affairs investigator, watch commander and division commander, among other roles.
“Chief Lawrence will be tasked with leading one of the top-performing and innovative law enforcement agencies in the state,'' said City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, who selected Lawrence from a national recruitment pool.
Lawrence has experience building diverse police departments through recruitment, promotions and succession planning. He collaborated with the community to reduce crime and traffic collisions, building on community trust of the police.
His police chief colleagues unanimously elected him to serve as the 54th president of the California Police Chief's Association. With the CPCA, he worked with the governor and state Attorney General on public safety legislation. He has also served on the CPCA Board of Directors for nine years and is the sole representative to the State Association of Chiefs of Police, which grants each state one delegate as liaison to the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
He currently serves on the California Office of Emergency Services' Homeland Security Advisory Committee, Gov. Gavin Newsom's “Creating Safer Communities Statewide Taskforce,'' the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee with the Public Policy Institute of California, and the Board of Directors for the Western States Information Network.
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