Los Angeles: On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, a community member generated a radio call of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon in the 8600 block of Belford Avenue. The suspect involved was later identified as off-duty Officer Richard Podkowski. After the completion of an initial investigation, Podkowski was arrested by LAPD investigators and booked for California Penal Code Section 245 – Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division immediately initiated an administrative investigation, which is being conducted simultaneously with the pending criminal case. Podkowski is currently out of custody and on administrative leave.
Podkowski has been employed by the Los Angeles Police Department since 2018 and is assigned to West Bureau.