Michael Rimkunas

• Rank: Assistant Chief
• Bureau: Director, Office of Special Operations
• Email: michael.rimkunas@lapd.online

Bio

Assistant Chief Michael Rimkunas was born, raised and educated in the San Fernando Valley. In 1995, he joined the Los Angeles Police Department and worked as a police officer in Foothill and Hollywood Divisions. His assignments included patrol, Hollywood Vice, and a Field Training Officer.

In 2002, Assistant Chief Rimkunas promoted to sergeant and worked as a field supervisor in Van Nuys, Newton, and Metropolitan Divisions. Within Metropolitan Division, Assistant Chief Rimkunas worked as supervisor in both a Crime Suppression Platoon and in the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT).

After Assistant Chief Rimkunas was promoted to Lieutenant in 2012, he was assigned to Newton Area as a Watch Commander before his selection as the Assistant Detective Officer-in-Charge. In August of 2013, he was assigned to North Hollywood Division as the Detective Commanding Officer.

In January 2016, he was promoted to Captain and subsequently selected to serve as the Commanding Officer, Risk Management Division. During his leadership at Risk Management Division, Assistant Chief Rimkunas led the effort to reduce employee traffic collisions caused by distracted driving, earning nationwide interest in this harm reduction strategy.

In May 2017, Assistant Chief Rimkunas returned to Newton Area, when he was advanced to the Area Commanding Officer of Newton Community Police Station.

Assistant Chief Rimkunas promoted to Commander in March of 2019 and was assigned to Operations—West Bureau. There, he served as the Assistant Commanding Officer, who maintained responsibility for overseeing five geographic areas in the City’s westside, along with the LAX Field Services Division.

In August of 2019, he was appointed the Assistant to the Director, Office of Operations. During his tenure as the Assistant to the Director, Assistant Chief Rimkunas assumed responsibility for all aspects of neighborhood policing—including patrol deployment and staffing levels, crime-reduction strategies, special event planning, efficient personnel utilization, and compliance inspections.

Assistant Chief Rimkunas promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief in July of 2021, when he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of Professional Standards Bureau. In that assignment, Assistant Chief Rimkunas led the accountability efforts of the Department through his oversight of Internal Affairs Division, Force Investigation Division, and Special Operations Division. During Assistant Chief Rimkunas’ tenure, he developed a successful series of strategies to rebuild community trust, enhance the applications of procedural justice tenets when addressing community concerns, and increase fairness and equity in the discipline process.

In June of 2025, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief at the Office of Special Operations. Assistant Chief Rimkunas currently leads the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, Detective Bureau, and the Major Events Group.

Assistant Chief Rimkunas graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. In 2009, Assistant Chief Rimkunas earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Organizational Leadership from National University. He has attended numerous leadership programs and trainings, and holds California POST Certificates for the Basic, Advanced, Supervisory, and Management levels.