Long Beach
Police Department

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(LTR: Lt. Pennino, Lt. Lopez, Lt. Prieto)

Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna has selected Lieutenant Michael Pennino, a 24-year veteran of the Police Department, Lieutenant Anthony Lopez, a 28-year veteran of the Police Department, and Lieutenant Gerardo Prieto, a 25-year veteran of the Police Department for promotion to the rank of Commander.

Lieutenant Michael Pennino began his career with the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) as a police officer in 1995. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2003 and to Lieutenant in 2010. Lieutenant Pennino has served in various assignments throughout his career including Burglary Detail, A.T.F. Task Force, Sex Crimes Detail, Identity Theft Detail, Night Auto Theft Detail, Investigations Bureau Office, Watch Commander, Drug Investigations Section and the Police Department's Information Technology Section.

Lieutenant Pennino has played a major role in the planning and implementation of the Department’s body-worn camera program. He was also responsible for overseeing the configuration, training, and deployment of the Department’s new handheld radios in 2019.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the University of Southern California and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership Institute and holds a Peace Officer’s Standards and Training management certificate.

Lieutenant Anthony Lopez began his career with the LBPD in 1991. He has worked all four patrol divisions, was a Field Training Officer and was later assigned to the Community Policing Team. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2001 and to Lieutenant in 2018.

Lieutenant Lopez has served in various roles throughout his career, including Field Training Program Supervisor, Office of the Chief of Police, Criminal Intelligence Section, F.B.I. Joint Terrorism Task Force, Joint Regional Intelligence Center, Patrol Watch Commander and most recently as the Administrative Lieutenant for the Patrol Bureau.

Lieutenant Lopez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Education from California State University, Long Beach and has taught at Long Beach City College in the Administration of Justice Program. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and the Peace Officers Standard and Training Management Course. He is currently attending the Leadership Long Beach Institute, class of 2020.

Lieutenant Gerardo Prieto began his career with the Long Beach Police Department in 1994. He promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and to Lieutenant in 2018.

Lieutenant Prieto has worked a variety of assignments including Patrol, Field Training Officer, Detective, Community Police Officer, Traffic Motor Officer, DUI Unit, Internal Affairs Division, and Airport Security/TSA Explosive Detection K9. Prior to promoting to Commander, he was assigned as the Field Support Lieutenant where he managed the Mental Evaluation Team, Quality of Life Unit, Event Planning Section and the Reserve Police Officer program.

Lieutenant  Prieto attended California State University, Long Beach and is currently enrolled in the POST Management Training Course. He serves as a board member for the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles and is a member of the National Fraternal Order of Police, and the Long Beach Police Command Officers Association.

As a result of these recent promotions, there will be a limited commander rotation. Effective January 4, 2019 commander assignments will be as follows:

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Assistant Chief – Wally Hebeish
Chief of Staff – Lieutenant Byron Blair
Internal Affairs Division – Commander Dina Zapalski

INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU
Deputy Chief – Erik Herzog
Detective Division – Commander Steven Lauricella
Special Investigations Division – Commander Donald Mauk

PATROL BUREAU
Deputy Chief – Micheal Lewis
North Division – Commander Anthony Lopez 
South Division – Commander Jeffrey Liberman 
East Division – Commander Patrick O’Dowd 
West Division – Commander Melvin McGuire
Field Support Division – Commander Robert Smith 

SUPPORT BUREAU
Deputy Chief – Alex Avila 
Port Police Division – Commander Paul LeBaron
Security Services Division – Commander Gerardo Prieto
Training Division – Commander Jeffrey Berkenkamp
Jail Division – Commander Michael Pennino