The Beverly Hills Police Chief is Mark Stainbrook, who has led the department since November 2021. He announced on May 8, 2026 that he is retiring effective June 26, 2026, and City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey is expected to name an interim chief to run the 154-officer department while the city works out a permanent replacement.1City of Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook Retiring from the Department
Who Mark Stainbrook Is
Stainbrook started as a patrol officer with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1995 and spent more than two decades there before leaving to become chief of the San Diego Harbor Police Department in 2018, where he oversaw security for major maritime facilities and international transit hubs.2NBC Los Angeles. New Beverly Hills Police Department Chief Appointed He moved to Beverly Hills in November 2021.3City of Beverly Hills. Staff Directory – Mark G. Stainbrook
Alongside his civilian career, Stainbrook served 32 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel after assignments in military police, civil affairs, and information operations.2NBC Los Angeles. New Beverly Hills Police Department Chief Appointed He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.4Beverly Press & Park Labrea News. BHPD Chief Announces Retirement
What Happens After June 26, 2026
The city has described Stainbrook’s departure as a planned transition, with Stainbrook leaving to pursue a new opportunity. Hunt-Coffey is expected to appoint an interim chief in the weeks around his exit, using the same appointment authority that brought Stainbrook in during 2021.1City of Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook Retiring from the Department
A permanent successor had not been named at the time of writing. Readers looking for the next chief’s name should check the city’s official announcements, since Beverly Hills has historically installed an interim leader first and then taken time filling the permanent post.5City of Beverly Hills. Department History
Who Appoints and Oversees the Chief
Under California law for general-law cities, the city manager appoints and may dismiss the chief of police.6Justia Law. California Government Code 34851-34859 – City Manager In Beverly Hills, that means the chief reports to the City Manager on employment, performance, and policy direction, not directly to the City Council.
The City Council still shapes policing in meaningful ways. Council members approve the annual police budget, set the legislative agenda, and hold public hearings on department programs. Residents can also submit complaints or commendations directly to the department or through the city’s Human Relations Commission.7City of Beverly Hills. Comments, Complaints and Commendations
What the Chief Actually Does
California Government Code Section 38630 places the police department of a city under the control of the chief of police.8California Legislative Information. California Government Code 38630-38638 In practice, the chief has direct authority over staffing, deployment, discipline, and enforcement of local ordinances. The chief decides how patrol units and specialized teams are allocated, oversees internal investigations, and sets policy on use of force, community engagement, and other operational questions.
The job carries serious fiscal responsibility. The city proposed a $124.9 million police budget for fiscal year 2026–27, a 6.8% increase over the prior year, covering salaries, equipment, technology, and training for a department that runs around the clock.
The chief also coordinates with regional agencies during large-scale incidents, from natural disasters and civil unrest to major events that draw crowds to the city’s commercial districts. Longer-term work includes tracking crime trends, adopting new technology, and adjusting staffing models.
The Department the Chief Runs
The department’s authorized strength is 154 sworn officers and 98 full-time civilian employees.9City of Beverly Hills. JoinBHPD – Beverly Hills Police Department Recruitment For a resident population of roughly 32,000, that ratio is well above most municipalities, reflecting the volume of visitors, commercial activity, and high-value property the department handles daily.
Three divisions sit under the chief, each led by a captain:10City of Beverly Hills. Police Divisions
- Field Services handles patrol, traffic enforcement, and jail operations.
- Investigative Services covers detectives, technology services, property and evidence, and the identification bureau.
- Administrative Services runs personnel and training, records, communications and dispatch, and the department’s budget.
Lieutenants and sergeants manage shifts and squads below the captains, in a traditional paramilitary chain of command.
Qualifications Required for the Role
California requires every law enforcement agency to meet standards set by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), and Beverly Hills is a POST-participating agency.9City of Beverly Hills. JoinBHPD – Beverly Hills Police Department Recruitment For a chief, the relevant state credential is the POST Executive Certificate, which requires:11California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Peace Officer Certificates
- Current full-time employment as a peace officer at a POST-participating agency.
- Holding or being eligible for a POST Advanced Certificate.
- At least 60 college semester units from an accredited institution.
- At least two years as the permanent head of a law enforcement agency.
- Completion of the POST Executive Development Course.
State certification is the floor. The city’s own selection process adds further scrutiny on top, which is part of why chief-level transitions in Beverly Hills have tended to move deliberately rather than quickly.