LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS NAMES INTERIM AIRPORT POLICE CHIEF

      After over 30 years of public safety  service, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) 

Police Chief George R. Centeno transitions to a new  role before his scheduled retirement at the end of February.  Chief Centeno has spent more than 30 years of public service including time spent in the United States military and three decades in law enforcement.  During the past five years he has led the LAWA Police Division, which is responsible for ensuring public safety and security at LAWA’s three airports: Los Angeles International (LAX), LA/Ontario International (ONT), and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation.         

         Until his retirement date, Chief Centeno has agreed to assist LAWA to further develop Airport Police functions in the Airport Response Coordination Center and the Airport Department Operations Center at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Chief Centeno will provide his unique experience and perspective to enhance critical functions for the police division and the entire airport in managing and responding to major emergencies.  Consequently, he will step down as chief of Airport Police and assume this new role on January 15, 2012.

         Current Airport Police Assistant Chief Michael Hyams has been appointed to serve as interim chief of Airport Police, e ffective January 15, 2012.  Chief Hyams will take over all roles and responsibilities as head of the fourth largest police agency in Los Angeles County until the conclusion of the recruitment, selection, and appointment process for a permanent chief. 

         Chief Hyams has a diverse law enforcement background which includes 25 years of senior management and supervisory experience and nine years as a police legal advisor and professional standards expert. 

          He rose through the ranks at the Newport Beach Police Department to captain and served as division commander for Patrol, Detectives, and Support Services.   He also served as executive director of the Orange County Superior Court, leading over 300 professional civilian staff a nd managing a budget of approximately $81 million. Chief Hyams is a 1977 honor graduate of the Los Angeles Police Academy, and a 1996 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.  He is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and earned AAAE status as an Airport Certified Employee in Security.

         Los Angeles Airport Police, a division of Los Angeles World Airports, is the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County with more than 1,100 law enforcement, security and staff personnel.  LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.