Hermosa Beach Police Chief Announces Retirement

HERMOSA BEACH, CA — Hermosa Beach Police Chief Sharon Papa announced her retirement Tuesday, effective October 1.

Papa, who has served in law enforcement for 40 years, was first appointed to the position in September 2013. She said she now has to "move on to life’s next adventure" due to her diagnosis of ocular melanoma last year, which has forced her to reassess her ability to continue to serve as leader of the City’s police force, the City of Hermosa Beach press release said.

"It is difficult to leave this job and this Department because I have enjoyed both so much," she said. "Thank you to the City Council, City manager, City staff and, most of all, my colleagues in the Police Department who have stood by me throughout this process. I want to give a special thanks to Acting Chief Milton McKinnon who has done such an outstanding job of leading the Police Department during my medical leave."

She was the first female police chief in Hermosa Beach, as well as the first female police chief in Los Angeles County when she was named chief of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department in January 1990. After it merged with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1997, she rose through the ranks to the position of assistant chief, making her the highest-ranking woman in the history of the LAPD at that time, the press release said.

Papa said HBPD's employees worked together to increase their outreach and partnership with the community through initiatives such as the Community Police Advisory Board, creation of a Community Police Academy and Coffee with a Cop events, during her tenure.

"Chief Papa has been a strong and effective leader, who has built bridges within our community, deftly managed major events and helped to enhance community safety. She led the way in implementing crime prevention through environmental design in downtown Hermosa Beach with better lighting and other improvements that have served as a deterrent to crime," said Hermosa Beach Mayor Stacey Armato. "We thank her for her service and thank Acting Chief Milton McKinnon for his leadership over the past year."

The City of Hermosa Beach will be launching a search for Chief Papa's replacement. For more information, contact Human Resources Manager Vanessa Godinez at vgodinez@hermosabch.org.