Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County, CA
2006 NLPOA Leadership Award Recipient
The NLPOA Board of Directors selected Sheriff Leroy D. Baca to receive the 2006 NLPOA Law Enforcement Leadership Award for his Commitment to Excellence in Policing and for Outstanding Law Enforcement Leadership. Sheriff Baca has exemplified excellent organization and leadership skills and he has “Bridged the Gap Between Latinos and Law Enforcement.” Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy D. Baca was born in East Los Angeles. On August 23, 1965, as a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy Sheriff Trainee. Rising through the ranks, in 1981, he was appointed to Captain by then Sheriff Peter Pitchess and selected to command Norwalk Station. On January 21, 1992, Sheriff Sherman Block again promoted Sheriff Baca to Chief. In 1993 Sheriff Baca graduated from the University of Southern California with a Doctorate of Public Administration. On December 7, 1998, Sheriff Baca was sworn in as Los Angeles County's 30th Sheriff, having been elected by the citizens of Los Angeles County. Sheriff Baca commands the largest Sheriff's Department in the world and supervises more than 13,000 sworn and civilian personnel. He is an Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at the University of La Verne.