board of directors

 Captain Michael W. Odle was born in the City of Hanford, California, and lived throughout the State of California during his youth. In March 1974, Captain Odle enlisted in the United States Army, where he served as a Military Policeman assigned to the 25th Military Police Company, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

In May 1979, Captain Odle fulfilled his dream to be a police officer and joined the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department. Captain Odle worked in the Southwest Area from 1979-1982, where he completed his probation. In 1982, he transferred to the 77th Street Area as a Field Training Officer. In 1983, Captain Odle entered the ranks of Metropolitan Division assigned to B-Platoon. In 1985, he moved to D-Platoon, the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Team. In 1996, he spent the next seventeen years as a SWAT Element Leader.

After spending nearly 28 years in SWAT, Captain Odle promoted to the rank of sergeant in November 2012. He was assigned to the Hollywood Area, first as a Patrol Supervisor, and then as a Vice Supervisor. In 2013, Captain Odle transferred to the Use of Force Review Division (UOFRD) as the OIC of the Strategic Analysis Force Education (SAFE) Unit.

Following his tour at UOFRD, he moved to Training Division as the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the Patrol Rifle and Tactical Shotgun (PRTS) Program. In November 2016, Captain Odle promoted to the rank of lieutenant and transferred to the Wilshire Area as a Watch Commander.

In February 2018, he transferred to In-Service Training Division as the OIC of the Field Operations Training Section. In September 2019, Captain Odle promoted to the rank of Captain and transferred to the 77th Street Area as the Patrol Commanding Officer. In August, 2020, Captain Odle transferred to the Mission Area as the Patrol Commanding Officer.

Captain Odle was awarded the Los Angeles Police Department’s Medal for Valor, the Department’s Police Medal, the Department’s Police Star with two bronze clusters, the Los Angeles Police Commission Medal with a bronze cluster, and the Police Meritorious Unit Medal. Captain Odle received the National Association of Police Organizations “TOP COP” award in 2010.

Captain Odle is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisor Leadership Institute, The Los Angeles Police Department West Point Leadership Program, The Criminal Justice Commission for Credible Leadership Development Program, and the University of   Southern California Law Enforcement Advanced Development Certificate Program. Captain Odle holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Emergency Services Management from the Union Institute & University and an Executive Master of Leadership Degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Captain Odle is married to a retired Police Officer, his lovely wife Donna, who proudly served 23 years with the LAPD before her retirement in 2017. He has an identical twin brother, Mark, who honorably retired from the California Highway Patrol as the Commanding Officer of the Newhall Area in 2015.

Captain Odle is the proud father of five children and three grandchildren. He enjoys biking, weight training, and other outdoor activities.

Captain Odle believes there is no higher calling than that of a public servant and is grateful for his opportunity to serve. 

Captain Odle’s mission statement is: Live Life with Purpose, Passion, and Packed Parachutes! 

 Captain James “JT” Townsend was born in Hollywood, California, and resided briefly in the Wilshire Area of Los Angeles until his family moved to Monterey Park, California, where he spent his childhood.

He attended the University of La Verne where he earned his Bachelor’s in Public Administration and a Master’s in Leadership & Management. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership, Los Angeles Police Leadership, Pepperdine University Conflict Resolution, and the Post Management schools.

He is a 24-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, having joined the Department in January of 1997. At the beginning of his career, he worked uniformed patrol in Southwest Area, Central Area, and 77th Area. He was selected for assignments such as CRASH (Criminal Resources Against Street Hoodlums), Juvenile Car, and Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) Gang Detectives.

After being promoted to Detective at Pacific Area, Captain Townsend soon found himself assigned to Narcotics Division where he found a passion for investigating narcotics-related crimes. During his tour as a Narcotics Detective, he was assigned to Southeast Area’s Narcotic Enforcement Detail (NED) and the West Bureau & Valley Bureau Buy Team where he was promoted to a Detective Supervisor.

Captain Townsend was then promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where he remained in a uniformed assignment for the next eleven years. He was a field supervisor in Southeast and Newton Areas and later designated Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of Newton Area’s Community Relations Office. It was in this assignment where he discovered he was better able to serve the community, foster greater understanding, and engage with families in South Los Angeles. He organized the first English & Spanish Citizen’s Academy in which community members met once a week at their local community police station to engage in dialogue with Department experts. The purpose of the academy was to offer a better understanding of the policies and operations of police work.

Additional contributions include the establishment of a tutoring program, where Officers assist Elementary school-aged children with their homework assignments, many of which are English as a Second Language (ESL) students. He was also instrumental in the opening of a Police Activity League (PAL) facility, inside the Pueblo Del Rio Housing Development, to provide the community with easier access to police mentoring and youth programs.

He was later assigned as Assistant Watch Commander at Newton Area, for three years, until he departed for Metropolitan Division, assigned as the B-Platoon Squad Leader.  In 2019, Captain Townsend was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned as the Watch Commander at Hollenbeck Area. He was later designated the Officer-In-Charge of Southeast Area’s Gang Impact Team (GIT) where he supervised Gang Detectives, the Narcotic Enforcement Detail, and Gang Enforcement Detail.

He spends his free time living an active lifestyle which includes running, bicycling, and martial arts training for the past twenty years. He is married and has one daughter with whom he enjoys spending time and traveling.

Captain Townsend is currently assigned as the Commanding Officer of Mission Patrol Division which encompasses the Arleta, Sylmar, Panorama City, North Hills, and Mission Hills areas of Los Angeles.