After 28 years with the Downey Police Department, the last six as its chief, Carl Charles recently retired from his position.
Residents, city officials, law enforcement personnel, family and friends gathered to say goodbye and wish him well.
Charles first joined the Downey Police Department in 1990, and rose through the ranks to become chief in 2012. As the department's leader, Charles reinstituted mounted horse and K9 programs, created a team to reach out to the homeless, established 10 new positions for officers within the department, improved communications with the media and with the public (including the use of social media), equipped all police officers with body cameras, developed a citizens' volunteer program, and created the quarterly “coffee with a cop” events.
Charles earned particular credit for the strength and leadership he showed when the department lost Officer Ricky Galvez, who was himself the victim of a crime. Charles is credited with keeping the department focused and strong during a trying period in its history.
For his part, Charles thanked the department, his family, and the residents of Downey for their support during his tenure. Charles was the 10th chief of the department, and the first African-American to hold the position. Organizers of events like this have an opportunity to work with a flyer printing company to create an informational biography of the honoree.
