Chief of Police, Damian Velasco

Chief Velasco began his law enforcement career in 1992 as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the County of Los Angeles. In 1994, Chief Velasco was hired by the Los Angeles Police Department as a full-time police officer and worked a variety of operational and investigative assignments over the course of his almost thirty-year career there. He retired from the LAPD at the rank of Lieutenant II in July of 2025 when he was selected as the Chief of Police for the City of Bell.

Chief Velasco has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. During his career with the Los Angeles Police Department, he developed and delivered several courses related to Use of Force and De-Escalation, Leadership, Command and Control, and Tactical Emergency First-Aid / Trauma Care. Chief Velasco is a graduate of the TEEX Enhanced Incident Management and Unified Command Course, and the LAPD Leadership Course.

Chief Velasco is a recipient of the LAPD’s Meritorious Unit Citation for his work in gang reduction, and the LAPD’s Community Policing Medal. He has been involved in large scale event planning and the direct protection of several heads of state.

Chief Velasco has been married to his wife Nicole for over thirty years. They have three children, two of whom are police officers with the Los Angeles Police Department. Chief Velasco’s supports “Compassionate and Progressive Policing”. He believes strongly in the ability of law enforcement agencies to strike a balance between proactive policing and community partnership.