Assistant Chief Beatrice Girmala, LAPD’s highest ranking woman, to retire month

Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Beatrice Girmala, the highest ranking woman in the department who was once thought of as a potential candidate for chief of police, will retire at the end of March.

The Los Angeles Police Commission announced Girmala’s impending retirement after 37 years with the department at its Tuesday meeting, in which they also lauded her as a trailblazer for other women in law enforcement. Girmala currently serves as the chief in charge of LAPD’s geographic patrol areas and community stations.

Commissioner Eileen Decker said Girmala was the only woman in LAPD history to have held all three assistant chief positions during her career.

“Being the first woman to achieve all these milestones requires tremendous strength,” Decker said. “Not easy, particularly when 80 percent of your colleagues are male.”

In 2018, after then LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced he would retire, Girmala was floated as his possible successor.

However, Girmala chose not to apply. Mayor Eric Garcetti would go on to nominate current LAPD Chief Michel Moore.

“When you decided not to run for chief last time, it changed the entire dynamic of the search,” Commissioner Steve Soboroff said to Girmala during Tuesday’s meeting. “You’re always going to be a chief to us.”

According to her department biography, Girmala grew up in Los Angeles. She went to high school in Hollywood and later attended UCLA.