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Deputy Chief Mark Leap joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1968 and is currently assigned as the Commanding Officer, Counter Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau. He was born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Fernando Valley. As a junior in college, he served as a student worker in the LAPD, underscoring his life-long commitment to law enforcement and the LAPD.
Throughout his career, Deputy Chief Leap has completed a numerous assignments, equipping him with a broad range of law enforcement experience. After five years as a police officer, he promoted to the rank of detective where he worked undercover narcotics investigations. Following his experience as a detective, he held the positions of sergeant and lieutenant working in various patrol, investigative, and administrative assignments throughout the City. As a sergeant, he worked internal affairs, training division, vice investigations and assisted in the planning and security for the 1984 Olympics. As lieutenant, he worked as a Watch Commander at 77th Street Patrol Division and then served as Assistant Commanding Officer, Personnel Division.
He promoted to the rank of Captain in 1992. As a Captain, his assignments included Jail Division, West Traffic Division, Commanding Officer of West Los Angeles Area and Commanding Officer of Rampart Area.
Upon his promotion to Commander in July 1998, he served as the Assistant Commanding Officer-Operations South Bureau. In 1999, he became Commanding Officer of Uniformed Services Group, overseeing Emergency Preparedness, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Air Support Division (ASD), canine unit and the mounted unit. He was the officer in charge of planning and implementing the Department's tactical strategy for the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
These experiences equipped him to play a role in the emergency and law enforcement response to the events of September 11. Under the leadership of Chief Bratton, Deputy Chief Leap designed the original Counter-Terrorism Bureau. From its inception, he has served as the assistant Commanding Officer of the Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau.
In this assignment, Deputy Chief Leap is the Director of Emergency Operations for LAPD during major unusual occurrences. Additionally, as part of his responsibilities, he assists in coordination of the Emergency Services Division, including the Bomb Squad and the Hazardous Materials Unit and the Major Crimes Division, including Anti-Terrorist Section, Special Investigations Squad, Criminal Investigations Section, and Criminal Conspiracy Section. Deputy Chief Leap oversees the LAPD Homeland Security Grant Program, working closely with other emergency response agencies and the Mayor's Office.
Deputy Chief Leap completed his Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice. He has served on the California Attorney General's Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Weapons and Tactics. He is a recognized Use of Force expert. He currently serves as the Chair of the Los Angeles County Emergency Preparedness Commission. He has lectured on police-community relationships and counter-terrorism at the UCLA School of Public Affairs and UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences. He is also a consultant on Counter-Terrorism for the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Major Cities Chief's Association. Deputy Chief Leap is married to UCLA Professor Jorja Leap. They have a daughter, Shannon. He lives with his family in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. |
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inside the lapd 
