Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — Ahead of his final day as chief of police, the Los Angeles City Council recognized Michel Moore Feb. 28 for his four decades of service and for leading public safety efforts through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee, led the ceremony honoring Moore, the 57th chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Moore will retire Feb. 29 with plans to move away from Los Angeles to be closer to his daughter, though he will retain a consultant role with the city.
The Board of Police Commissioners selected Dominic Choi as the interim chief of police, and he is to take on the role starting March 1.
Born in Porterville in 1960, Moore was the second of five children growing up in different parts of the United States, Rodriguez said. He graduated from high school in Conway, Arkansas, and moved to Southern California in 1978, joining the LAPD in 1981.
Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1993, and completed a master’s in business administration in 1999.
“Chief Moore rose through the ranks from a detective sergeant lieutenant working various patrols, investigative and administrative assignments throughout the city,” Rodriguez said.
Moore became a captain in 1998, first assigned to the Rampart Division. In 2002, he was promoted to commander, then deputy chief in 2004, assuming command of operations at the department’s West Bureau.
In 2014, he was assigned as director of the Office of Administrative Services, overseeing the department’s fiscal, personnel, training and other various support operations. He became first assistant chief in 2016.
In 2018, he was sworn in as the chief of police, replacing Charlie Beck.
“I’ve said repeatedly that Chief Moore has an encyclopedic understanding of this department, and he has served in so many various roles, and understands the dynamics, the reporting requirements and the importance of building the public’s trust,” Rodriguez said.
Mayor Karen Bass joined the council in honoring Moore.
“We’ve been through many crises related to weather or other various situations where you had to call everybody together and we work together collaboratively, and I really appreciate that and honor your 40 years,” Bass said.
In regard to the pandemic, she noted that Moore had to go through the experience of losing many officers, and yet while grieving, he continued to lead.
“I know that Cindy and your daughter will be happy to have you home full-time,” Bass said. “You’re not going to go away immediately, and we’ve asked that you stay on for a while and work with interim Chief Dominic Choi to make sure that there is a smooth transition.”
Throughout the ceremony, some members of the public booed and made other noises, showing their disapproval of Moore. Council President Paul Krekorian had one man removed from the Council Chambers for disrupting the event.
“Nearly six years ago, I was here in front of this body with my wife Cindy, as we sought the confirmation of this council with my appointment,” Moore said. “Over the course of that confirmation, I remained committed to working with each of you to pursue a common goal of public safety and to lead with purpose, compassion and with partnerships.”
Moore added, “I’ll forever cherish the challenges and success enjoyed, remembering the 239 men and women of this department and their families who have sacrificed their life in the service of this great city.”
Moore gave his final report to the Board of Police Commissioners Feb. 27, taking a moment to reflect on his many years of service.
He called the LAPD “the finest police department in the world” and noted his goal as police chief was to build on the success of predecessors Charlie Beck and Bill Bratton in improving public trust, lowering crime, modernizing technology and addressing the most pressing concerns of residents.
“No one could have imagined what our city in this department faced in the last five years with an unprecedented combination of challenges and crises that is unmatched in our lifetime,” Moore said.
He touted his work in bolstering community trust, implementing reforms such as use-of-force policy and de-escalation, expanding alternative services and increasing the diversity of the workforce.
“Over the last half of the year, recruitment is improving and we’re retaining more of our young officers who previously had been lost to other agencies,” Moore added.
He also described the board’s choice of Choi as interim chief of police as “thoughtful.” Moore called Choi an “outstanding leader, a team builder, a communicator and well-equipped” to move the department forward until the board and Bass identify the next chief.
Erroll Southers, president of the Board of Police Commissioners, thanked Moore again for his 43 years of service.
“I’d like to commend you for the crime reduction initiatives that you engaged during your tenure as chief,” Southers said.
Choi is expected to step into the position March 1. The police commissioners also approved an increase to his annual salary for taking on the role — to about $392,774.
