Chief Darren Arakawa

Past President

South Gate P.D. 

Darren Arakawa began his career in 1991 as a Reserve Police Officer and became a full sworn officer in 1992. He has served in every division of the police department and worked his way up in the organization until July of 2021 when he was appointed as the 16th Police Chief of the South Gate Police Department.

He is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum-Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University, California Peace Officer Standards and Training Command College, Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, and the Delinquency Control Institute at the University of Southern California. He possesses an Associates of Arts and Associate of Science Degree from Rio Hondo College, a Bachelor Degree and Master of Science Degree from California State University, Long Beach. He has completed post-graduate work at the University of La Verne in Public Administration. Darren is an advocate of 21st Century policing principles and is heavily involved in advocacy for sound law enforcement practices and effective policing legislation.