Los Angeles – On May 27, 2004, the members of the Los Angeles Police Commission selected Richard Tefank as the new Police Commission Executive Director. Mr. Tefank is currently serving as the Assistant Inspector General for the Police Commission and previously served as the Chief of Police in Buena Park and Pomona. He will fill the position recently vacated by Dan Koenig who retired earlier this month after one year of service to the Commission and 33 years of service to the Los Angeles Police Department. Mr. Tefank was selected from the list which was created last year after an extremely extensive nationwide search by Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), was conducted.

The Police Commission’s goal remained the same this year as it did last year. Police Commission President David S. Cunningham, III stated, "We need the best and the brightest in this position. PERF delivered a list of individuals to us that represented the best and the brightest. I am more than confident that we have talked to the most qualified people in the country interested in this position. From that highly qualified group of people, we have the best. Mr. Tefank now has the additional experience of working as an Assistant Inspector General, which gives him even more valuable experience with the Police Commission. We are fortunate to have him in this critical position."

The search process consumed approximately five months last year and resulted in the receipt of 64 applications. Through an intensive screening process, the list was narrowed down to 13 individuals, seven of whom were interviewed by the Police Commission.

The Executive Director of the Police Commission is the Commission’s chief administrative officer reporting directly to the Commissioners. The position is charged with the supervision, appointment, discharge, discipline and transfer of the Commission’s executive staff and Commission Investigation Division personnel. The Executive Director oversees budgetary appropriations for the Commission, and serves as the Commission’s liaison to the Chief of Police and all governmental entities.