For our Hawthorne Community,

Well, it’s been a while since I last posted an update here. I hope you are doing well. It’s hard to believe we are almost at the end of 2022. Where did the time go? I already see Christmas lights popping up in our neighborhoods!

And speaking of time, it’s been almost four years (to the day) since I had the privilege of becoming the Chief of HPD, taking over from Chief Fager. During these past four years, I witnessed the sacrifice, hard work, and mental toughness our officers and professional staff displayed during the most challenging times in our department’s history. Humility and compassion are the characteristics that carried us to where we are today. To say I am proud of everyone doesn’t quite do justice. It was a privilege to lead this department during these past four years. Today, I have some important news I want to share with you regarding HPD.

I will be retiring from HPD at the end of this year.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our community and our key stakeholders for your support of HPD. We couldn’t have done this without the strong partnerships and support from our schools, businesses, residents, and law enforcement partners. Although we will carry on and continue to provide the best possible public safety for our city, getting through these past few years only could have happened because of your support. Thank you.

Our organizational culture is strong and unique, and for the past four years, my focus has been to ensure we maintained a great working culture focused on taking care of our employees. We also focused on leadership mentoring and succession planning. Even though my time at HPD will end, the leadership team here is strong, and the leadership transition will not affect how we do business.

I am proud to announce that Captain Gary Tomatani, a 28-year veteran of the police department, will take over as the Interim Police Chief starting January 1, 2023.

Thank you for allowing me to serve this wonderful city for the past 32 years!

Chief Michael Ishii

November 2022

Press Release

After 32 years with the Hawthorne Police Department, Chief Michael Ishii has announced his plan to retire at the end of this year. Chief Ishii was hired in 1990 as a Reserve Officer and a full-time Officer in 1992. He has served as the Chief since 2018.

Under his leadership, Chief Ishii prioritized creating an organizational culture focused on employee empowerment, embracing community policing department-wide, employee wellness, and serving our community with respect and compassion.

Chief Ishii implemented the Hawthorne Safe Initiative, a policing strategy that provided safety and engagement in five key areas: Parks, Schools, Traffic, Neighborhoods, and Businesses. He also created the Care for Blue Initiative that focused on Officer wellness in mental care, career mentoring, finance, and health.

During his tenure, Chief Ishii successfully led the organization during some of the most challenging times in the department’s history. This was especially critical during the pandemic and protests, where officers focused on safety at the businesses, engagement with students and faculty, and responding quickly to the needs of the fast-changing circumstances in the community.

Chief Ishii oversaw one of the biggest and most significant organizational changes in the department as it related to life-saving medical care. He hired the region’s first and only full-time Medical Director (Dr. Joe Nakagawa, who currently oversees the Paramedic, EMT, and Tactical Medicine programs). HPD currently has six officers fully trained as paramedics and over 20 officers certified as EMTs. Officers now use their training and skills to save lives as they encounter victims (and suspects) suffering from life-threatening injuries, drug overdoses, and medical emergencies.

During his tenure, Chief Ishii hired over 25 new officers and professional staff and made over 20 leadership promotions. The department is constantly evolving but the strong positive culture and strong identity continue to guide all of the employees.

Chief Ishii will continue to run the national Coffee with a Cop program as the program director. Coffee with a Cop was started in Hawthorne in 2011 and is now one of the most successful community policing programs in the country and world, held in all 50 states, 36 countries, and nine languages.

There certainly are more accomplishments to list, especially in the area of implementing the latest technology for the department. However, in his true leadership style, Chief Ishii deferred the department’s success to the hard-working people doing the actual work.

“All of the great ideas, technology innovations, and community policing programs were employee-driven, not leadership driven.”

"I am grateful to end my law enforcement career with the department I have been a part of for the last 32 years. This department gave me the opportunity to make a difference and help others in our community. I considered this a privilege and never took it for granted.”

“What I will miss the most will be working with everyone at HPD. Watching them bring their A-game every day, I was inspired by their work ethic and mental toughness. Everyone working here comes from a humble background. They appreciate the value of hard work, serving with empathy, and personal sacrifice. They understand the importance of working together and helping each other, especially in times of need.”

“To be the leader of HPD for the past four years was an absolute honor and a privilege. I take great pride in having done my service with such a wonderful group of people.”

***
Mayor Alex Vargas

"Chief Ishii did an incredible job leading our police department these past four years. Under his leadership, the department increased its level of service, built an incredible partnership with our community, and established a department culture based on serving with respect and empathy. We are a stronger and safer community thanks to Chief Ishii’s leadership. Thank you Chief Ishii, for serving the City of Hawthorne with honor and distinction!"

City Manager Vontray Norris

“Chief Ishii has provided continuous strides in our community while leading the Hawthorne Police Department. Chief Ishii has embraced 21st-century policing, and our City and Police Department are better for it. Under the Chief’s command, our officers have the resources they need to keep residents safe while continuing to hone their skills as law enforcement professionals. The City of Hawthorne hopes Chief Ishii enjoys a happy and well-deserved retirement with his family. Thank you for your commitment to the City of Good Neighborhoods.”

***

Captain Gary Tomatani, a 28-year veteran of the police department, will take over as the Interim Police Chief starting January 1, 2023.

*Chief Ishii with Scottie, the region’s first Facility dog.*

Biography

Chief Michael Ishii was appointed as the Hawthorne Interim Police Chief in October 2018, succeeding Chief Robert Fager, who served as the Police Chief from 2010 to 2018. He was selected as the Chief of Police in January 2019.

With a complement of over 160 employees, Chief Ishii oversaw a department that prides itself on implementing innovative ways to provide public safety services and continuing to evolve and meet the challenges of present-day law enforcement.

Chief Ishii has been with the Hawthorne Police Department since 1990, first as a Reserve Officer and as a full-time officer in 1992. His experience encompasses various assignments, including Motor Officer, Field Training Officer, Internal Affairs Sergeant, Public Information Officer, Patrol Bureau Watch Commander, and Detective Bureau Commander. He was promoted to Captain in 2010 and oversaw the Administration and Operations Divisions and the City’s Information Technology Services Bureau.

Chief Ishii helped transform the department into a community policing-driven culture. He led teams that implemented nationally recognized social media programs and innovative community policing programs. He created the Hawthorne Safe Initiative, where the Police Department focused on long-term strategies to provide safety and engagement to five key areas: Parks, Schools, Traffic, Neighborhoods, and Businesses.

In 2011, Chief Ishii was part of the Hawthorne PD team that helped create the national “Coffee with a Cop” program, which has become one of the most successful community policing programs with events held in all 50 States, 16 countries, and in four languages. He also developed the National Coffee with a Cop website and currently oversees the National Coffee with a Cop Day (held annually across the country on the 1st Wednesday of October). As the Program Manager of CwC, Chief Ishii has developed expertise in branding, marketing, and what it takes to be a global brand manager for the Coffee with a Cop Nonprofit Corporation. Chief Ishii also created the Care for Blue Initiative focusing attention and programs dedicated to Employee wellness.

Chief Ishii holds an MS Degree from California State University Dominguez Hills in Negotiations/Conflict Management and a BA from California State University Long Beach in Communication Studies - Interpersonal and Organizational Communication.

Chief Ishii was born in Japan and grew up on a US military base near Tokyo. He is fluent in Japanese.

He is a member of the Los Angeles County Police Chief’s Association [LACPCA]. He holds membership within the International (IACP), California (CPCA) Police Chief’s Association, and the National Association of Asian American Law Enforcement Commanders (NAAALEC). He is also on the Advisory Board for Carfax for Police.