HPD in front of the Lincoln Memorial, May 2012
Our Mission
[fade]The mission of the Hawthorne Police Department is to provide a safe and secure community for its citizens while at the same time promoting a high degree of professionalism and respect for human dignity.[/fade]
Our Vision
[fade]To be a strong and effective organization through open communication, teamwork, mutual respect, and a partnership with the community, willing to pioneer innovative approaches to law enforcement.[/fade]
HPD in front of the US Capitol, Wash DC, May 2012
ABOUT US
A progressively modern police agency with a renowned family-feel. Founded in 1922 and located in the heart of Los Angeles County, the Hawthorne Police Department provides services and innovations that set us apart from all. Coffee with a Cop, Ride to Live, Tactical First Aid, and 'Scottie' are current examples of how HPD continues to push staff-driven ideas into programs that set the bar in innovative approaches to community policing.
With nearly 100 officers and 60 support staff serving an ever growing community of over 95,000 (home of the Beach Boys, Northrop Corporation, and more recently SpaceX and Tesla Motors Design), the department maintains its technical edge by being the only department in the South Bay with its own Helicopter, Tactical Medicine Program, Armored Rescue Vehicle, and state of the art Police Facility.
Police CHIEF eric lane
Acting Chief Eric Lane
Acting Chief Eric Lane was appointed in November 2025, succeeding Chief Gary Tomatani, who served from 2022 to 2025, and now leads a 160-employee department dedicated to advancing public safety through innovative strategies and enhanced community engagement in Hawthorne and the surrounding region.
Chief Lane began his career with the Hawthorne Police Department in 2001 after graduating from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Academy, serving in roles including Patrol, Detective Bureau, Major Narcotics Unit, Traffic Bureau Motorcycle Sergeant, Patrol Sergeant, Administrative Sergeant, Patrol Watch Commander, Special Operations Bureau Commander, and Police Captain overseeing both Operations and Administration Divisions, with promotions to Sergeant in 2008, Lieutenant in 2014, and Captain in 2020.
Committed to strengthening community ties, Chief Lane brings a collaborative and progressive leadership style, emphasizing professionalism, community relationships, and a problem-solving philosophy to address quality-of-life issues through expanded outreach, improved recruitment, enhanced training, and collaboration with other City departments.
A Los Angeles native, Chief Lane holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration with a focus on leadership, and is a graduate of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Point Leadership Program, the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Command College, and the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police.
Captain Chris Port
HPD past LEADERSHIP
Chief Michael Heffner 2006 to 2010
Chief Coleman E. Young: 1970 - 1981
HPD Leadership
Captain Eric Lane,Chief Gary Tomatani, and Chief Michael Ishii
The photo was taken in 2022 at Chief Ishii’s retirement.
Hawthorne PD is one of the last agencies in the area to promote all Chiefs from within the organization. This is a testament to the leadership’s hyper focus on maintaining a culture prioritizing leadership development and succession planning.
HPD Leadership
Chief Robert Fager, Chief Stephen Port, Chief Michael Ishii
The photo was taken in 2022 at Chief Ishii’s retirement.
Four years later, we again gathered to make the leadership transition. Captain Gary Tomatani took over the leadership of HPD in 2022. One of Chief Ishii’s top priorities was to develop capable and effective leaders from within the department. HPD’s Chiefs continue to support one another even after retirement.
HPD Leadership
Chief Robert Fager, Chief Stephen Port, Chief Michael Ishii
The photo was taken in 2018 at Chief Fager’s retirement and Chief Ishii’s appointment.
We are fortunate to have HPD’s Chiefs continue to support one another even after retirement. All Chiefs have come from within the organization. This shows how the department’s culture values succession planning and the internal development of leaders. This allows our unique culture to continue across multiple generations. Knowing the history of our organization enables the current generation to keep a strong identity and maintain HPD Culture.
HPD Leadership
Kenneth Stonebreaker (left) and Harold Martin (right). The parade photo is from 1976 in front of Chaffee Ford for the annual parade. (photo submitted by Brett Bigelow)
