Burbank Police Will Continue to Serve the Public With Respect, Integrity and Excellence Through Transition
Burbank, CA (June 10, 2021) – Recently, Burbank Chief of Police Scott LaChasse announced his upcoming retirement from the Burbank Police Department and last week City Manager, Justin Hess named Deputy Police Chief Michael Albanese as the Interim Chief of Police beginning July 7, 2021.
“During this time of transition and as Interim Chief, the Burbank Police Department pledges to continue serving the public with respect, integrity and excellence, fulfilling our mission through our stated core values,” says Chief Albanese.
“On behalf of the City Council, we want to thank Chief LaChasse for his consistent and professional leadership during these last 11½ years with Burbank,” stated Mayor Bob Frutos. “He has helped to strengthen transparency, accountability and service superiority within the organization.”
Chief LaChasse instituted a rigorous audit schedule and was instrumental in obtaining the services of the Office of Independent Review (OIR), a civilian oversight body, to conduct independent audits of citizen complaints, uses of force, bias policing, police vehicular pursuits, and related matters.
Under Chief LaChasse’s leadership, the BPD went through the rigorous steps for accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the gold standard in public safety. The CALEA accreditation complemented Chief LaChasse’s embrace of the six pillars of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
One of Chief LaChasse’s most significant improvements to Burbank Police Department field operations addressed the effective use of technology. Chief LaChasse was responsible for the purchase and deployment of both in-car and body-worn camera systems. Following their use, personnel complaints dropped precipitously.
He introduced the Burbank Police Commission and Police Department to training and standards of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE).
“Within all of his success, one of Chief LaChasse’s most meaningful contributions to the City of Burbank has been in the area of police/community relations. He has personally engaged the community at every opportunity,” stated Hess. “I am confident that under the leadership of Interim Chief Albanese that the City will continue to provide high quality and professional police services to our community.”
Interim Chief Albanese has been with Burbank since April of 2010 and Deputy Chief since July of 2015. “Chief Albanese has been beside Chief LaChasse during the last eleven years,” said Mayor Frutos. “He has a comprehensive understanding of the Burbank community and has been instrumental in creating excellence within the Police Department, encompassing constant improvement. He is an exceptional choice.”
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About Burbank
Burbank is a diverse community of 103,000 residents. Billed as the “Media Capital of the World”, numerous media and entertainment companies are headquartered in Burbank including Warner Bros. Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Netflix Animation, and Cartoon Network Studios. With the Hollywood Burbank Airport located within the City, Burbank is a go-to destination for business and tourism. Additionally, Burbank is known for its walkable and safe neighborhoods, well-run school district, and “small town” charm.