Department Update - Interim Chief Eric Lane

Looking Ahead to an Exciting 2026

As we wrap up 2025, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to every member of the Hawthorne Police Department for making this a truly successful year. The last few months have been incredibly busy with city events and police operations, but through it all, your hard work, commitment, and dedication to our great police department have shone through. It doesn't go unnoticed—everyone who works here should be proud of the outstanding work we do and the vital services we provide to our city.

2026 promises to be an exciting year ahead. We'll welcome new hires joining our ranks across the department, conduct testing and celebrate internal promotions in both civilian and sworn positions, and we will test for several new specialist positions. On the horizon are some monumental events: the NBA All-Star Weekend from February 13–15 at the Intuit Dome, and FIFA World Cup 2026 matches from June 11 through July 19, including eight games hosted at SoFi Stadium. These large-scale, once-in-a-lifetime regional events will give us incredible opportunities to showcase both our city and the Hawthorne Police Department on a global stage. They will also help us develop blueprints for even bigger events ahead, like the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

As we close out 2025 and turn our eyes to 2026, I'd like to share a few highlights from the past several weeks that truly exemplify the spirit of our team. In November, Bearet Luttenbacher and Michael Jenks stepped up to assist the Alhambra Police Department by working a patrol shift in Alhambra, allowing their department time to grieve the tragic loss of Officer Alec Sanders.

That same month, Captain Port, Lieutenant Saldana, Sergeant Ceniceros, Sergeant Matson, Sergeant Kemp, and I, along with members of our Narcotics Unit, attended the California Narcotic Officers' Association Al Stewart Dinner, where Detective Thomas Heffner was rightfully honored for his more than 14 years of exemplary service as a narcotics Task Force Investigator with HIDTA, Hawthorne Narcotics Investigator, Narcotics Canine Handler, and CNOA Narcotics Instructor. Congratulations, Tom!!!

A special thank you goes to the Hawthorne Police Officers Association (HPOA) for providing Thanksgiving lunch and dinner to our employees who were here serving the community during the holiday.

On Saturday, December 6th, we attended the Explorer Post Class 88 Graduation at South Torrance High School, where we proudly celebrated three new Police Explorers who successfully graduated from the Academy. This brings our Explorer Post numbers up to a total of 10 dedicated young Police Explorers. Our Explorer Post continues to thrive and grow thanks to the countless hours of volunteering and guidance from our exceptional Explorer Advisors: Raul Espinoza, Dianne Carmona, Ericka Marroquin, Shelly Yoshida, Jesse Lopez, Jerome Michalzcak, and Jesus Cenicerios. I want to personally thank them for their unwavering dedication and for carrying on the decades-long tradition of this program, which has profoundly influenced and helped shape many of our current officers and employees within these walls, as well as countless others throughout Los Angeles County law enforcement.

Our Santa Day event was a resounding success, giving our employees a chance to celebrate the holidays with their families right here at the police department. Huge thanks to Aimee Yoshida, John Yoshida, Darnell, and Captain Port for organizing an amazing day complete with games, bouncers, fantastic food, and a visit from Santa—courtesy of the LA County Fire Department.

Finally, thank you to the HPOA Board members (President Michael Matson, Vice President Kenny Craig, Treasurer Gonzalo Cardenas, Secretary Jesus Ceniceros, Director Gus Rubio, Director Ericka Marroquin, Director Dianne Carmona, Director George Bukhin, Director John Broc) and the Christmas Party Planning Committee—Dianne Carmona, Bradley Jackson, Pedro Nambo, George Bukhin, Ericka Marroquin and Jose Gomez—for hosting another outstanding Christmas party on the Queen Mary. The evening was filled with fond memories, great company, dancing, and yes... a few shots thank you George! It was wonderful catching up with everyone.

Thank you again for an amazing 2025—here's to an even brighter and more exciting 2026! As we kick off the new year, please mark your calendars for Friday morning, February 6th—we will be taking a full department photograph followed by a department meeting. It's been six years since our last department photo on February 19th, 2019, and with all the new faces and changes since then, this will be a great opportunity to capture our current team. More information will be coming as we get closer to the date.

Chief Gary Tomatani Retirement – “ALWAYS Double Down on Eleven!”

From Acting Chief Eric Lane

Join me in bidding farewell and wishing a happy retirement to Chief Gary Tomatani after more than 31 years of dedicated service as a police officer with the City of Hawthorne. Chief Tomatani began his career on March 20, 1994, and has honorably served as Chief of Police since December 2022, following the retirement of Chief Michael Ishii.

Over the past three years, he has focused on elevating the professionalism of the Hawthorne Police Department—particularly through stronger collaboration with fellow city departments—while improving service levels, addressing homelessness, and enhancing public safety overall.

Chief Tomatani will also be remembered for creating several innovative assignments within the Hawthorne Police Department. Here are a few of his most notable accomplishments:

 

Bloodhounds

For over 40 years, the Hawthorne Canine Unit relied primarily on dual-purpose apprehension/patrol dogs, supported by a single-purpose narcotics canine. In 2012, the department made history by becoming the first agency in the nation to add a facility dog, Scottie, to its canine complement.

In April 2022, then-Captain Tomatani received a proposal to introduce a bloodhound to the K-9 Unit. Newly appointed Chief Tomatani approved it to bolster public safety and provide officers and detectives with an additional investigative resource.

Under his leadership, the department welcomed its first bloodhound team—Officer Cody Dahlen and Canine Hannibal—in April 2023. The program’s immediate success led to the addition of a second team, Officer Samantha Naghaway and Canine Kai, in September 2023.

 

Real-Time Crime Center

Three years ago, the Hawthorne Real-Time Intelligence Center (RTCC) was born. Retired Lieutenant Goetz, under Chief Tomatani’s direction, conducted an in-depth study of best practices nationwide. After traveling extensively to examine existing models, he returned with a clear vision tailored to Hawthorne’s needs.

What began with Lieutenant Robert Mitchell and Sergeant The Vu has grown into a dynamic team that now includes two investigators—Detective Sean Judd and Detective Gonzalo Cardenas—plus dedicated Gang Analyst Julissa Trujillo. The RTCC tackles the toughest, most complex cases, often turning “unsolvable” investigations into successes.

Beyond supporting patrol and internal investigations, the RTCC assists the Detective Bureau and collaborates with neighboring agencies to solve crimes across jurisdictions. It stands as a hub of intelligence, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of justice.

 

Drone First Responder

Launched in partnership with the RTCC, the Hawthorne Police Department pioneered the region’s first Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program. What started as a modest initiative with informal procedures and a draft policy has evolved into a fully autonomous, robust operation.

These efforts have transformed how the Hawthorne Police Department responds to calls for service—making our community and staff safer while increasing the efficiency of criminal investigations that might otherwise have gone unresolved. Drones now deploy autonomously, providing critical situational awareness and slashing response times. With nearly 20 trained pilots and a growing fleet, Hawthorne has become a trusted provider of aerial support for surrounding agencies as well.

 

Air-13

Lastly, Chief Tomatani modernized the department’s air program by acquiring its first fixed-wing aircraft: Air-13, a 2010 Cessna Turbo 206H Stationair. This state-of-the-art surveillance platform enhances public safety and combats crime from above.

Equipped with a rear-compartment workstation for the Tactical Flight Observer (TFO), Air-13 features a Trakka Systems TC-375 high-definition, fully stabilized camera with a 15-inch augmented-reality thermal self-tracking system. Starlink satellite connectivity enables the pilot and TFO to stream real-time, high-definition video directly to ground officers and the Real-Time Crime Center, ensuring seamless coordination during critical operations.

Air-13 also supports patrol officers with a bird’s-eye view during high-stakes scenarios—like pursuits or large-scale incidents—delivering faster, more coordinated responses. This versatile aircraft has become an indispensable tool in modern policing, bridging ground units and aerial intelligence.

 

Chief Tomatani looks forward with optimism to the continued growth and progress of the Hawthorne Police Department and the City of Hawthorne in the years ahead. He will always be remembered for his passion for “squats and deadlifts,” his long hours at the blackjack tables, and his timeless advice: “Always split your eights and aces—and ALWAYS double down on eleven.”

Enjoy your well-deserved retirement, Sir.