Associate
Retired Chief of Operations, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
James Hellmold serves on contract as a Senior Advisor for the USDOJ, in support of the International Criminal Investigation Assistance Program (ICITAP), US Embassy, Philippines. James Hellmold accepted this position shortly after his retirement from a 33-year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. His final assignment was Chief of Special Operations, with oversight of all Emergency Operations, SWAT/K9, Arson/Explosives HAZMAT, Aero Bureau, Metrolink, and Transit Services throughout Los Angeles County. Chief Hellmold also served on numerous regional homeland security and counter-terrorism boards, including the Los Angeles Area Joint Regional Intelligence Center (LA-JRIC), and Central California Area Maritime Security Committee (CCAMSC).
Early in his career, James Hellmold worked a variety of front line and supervisory assignments in custody operations, patrol, SWAT, administration and strategic planning. When James Hellmold served as the commanding officer of Century Sheriff’s Station, the city of Lynwood received “All-American City” honors for historic crime reductions, community development, and the lowest number of homicides in nearly 50 years. As a commander, he was selected to closely inspect jail operations following allegations of corruption, and worked with the Citizens Commission on Jail Violence to implement reforms. James Hellmold later served as the Assistant Sheriff of all Sheriff’s patrol and detective operations throughout Los Angeles County, and as Chief of Countywide Services he worked closely with the Office of Diversion and Recovery to develop new law enforcement diversion and homelessness programs. This strategy of guiding non-violent offenders to rehabilitation and services in lieu of arrest allows law enforcement to focus resources on serious and violent crime to make communities safer.
Chief Hellmold holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton, and completed the Executive Leadership Program at Cornell University. He has participated in numerous countywide sub-committees and called upon as a subject matter expert in law enforcement tactics, emergency management, and community policing strategies to address the homelessness crisis.