John Lortz

• Rank: Captain I
• Bureau/Division/Office: West Los Angeles
• Email: 32190@lapd.online

Bio

Captain John Lortz began his career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1995. As a police officer, he served in a variety of assignments including patrol, gangs, field training officer, and as a drug recognition expert in the Central, West Los Angeles, and Harbor Areas.

In 2003, he was promoted to the rank of Detective and transferred to the Rampart Detective Division, where he investigated violent and property crimes and served as a night watch detective.

Two years later, in 2005, he advanced to Detective Supervisor and was assigned to Audit Division, where he played a key role in ensuring departmental compliance with the Federal Consent Decree.

In 2006, he was promoted to Sergeant and returned to Central Area as a patrol supervisor. He later held supervisory roles in the Office of Operations, Risk Management Bureau, Personnel and Training Bureau, and the Professional Standards Bureau.

Promoted to Lieutenant in 2012, Captain Lortz served as a watch commander in the 77th Street and Newton Areas. He also held leadership roles in Planning and Research Division and Operations-South Bureau. While in Operations-South Bureau, he served as the Bureau Vice and Gang Coordinator, supervised the Community Safety Operations Center, and oversaw joint operations with the LAPD-FBI Task Force, LAPD-ATF Task Force, and the Community Safety Unit.

In 2023, he became the Detective Commanding Officer at Southeast Area. In 2025, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and currently serves as the Commanding Officer of the West Los Angeles Patrol Division.

Captain Lortz holds Bachelor’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Liberal Arts, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management and Leadership.