Who: James McMurray and Michael Berkow will be sworn in as the Los Angeles Police Department’s newest Deputy Chiefs. McMurray is a 33-year veteran of LAPD and Berkow is the former Chief of the Irvine Police Department.

When: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 at 9:30 am

Where: Los Angeles Police Commission Meeting, Public Works Boardroom
200 North Spring Street, Room 350
Los Angeles, CA 90012

James McMurray joined LAPD in 1969 and has worked a variety of assignments including patrol, detective, and administrative operations. He is one of the few individuals in Department history to rise to the rank of Deputy Chief by way of the Detective ranks. McMurray, who will oversee Detectives, most recently was Commanding Officer of Internal Affairs Group. Previously, he was Commanding Officer of Detective Services Group. In this capacity, he was responsible for Uniformed Services, Detective Services, Juvenile Services, Criminal Intelligence, and Transit Group. He commanded approximately 600 sworn and civilian personnel as the head of all detective operations in the City.

Michael Berkow, who has made a reputation for reforming police agencies and targeting municipal corruption, began his law enforcement career in Rochester, New York, working the night beat while attending law school at Syracuse University. During his 15 years in Rochester, Berkow led a task force that brought about the arrest and prosecution of the city’s former police chief on corruption charges. As the Police Chief of Coachella, he arrested Councilmembers and the City Manager, and also cleaned up the department, which had a very poor reputation. In South Pasadena, Chief Berkow again turned a police department around which was embroiled in scandal. On the international level, Berkow is credited with rebuilding police forces in Somalia and Haiti. At the Los Angeles Police Department, Deputy Chief Berkow will be overseeing the Internal Affairs Group.

For more information on this press release, please contact Tamryn Catania at 213-485-3531.