The new 911 communications manager at Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) has been elected President of Los Angeles County Women Leaders in Law Enforcement (WLLE). Patricia Tachias joined the BHPD in October, and now she is taking over the reins of WLLE, a trade organization of sworn officers and unsworn law enforcement employees.
Tachias comes to the BHPD by way of the Covina Police Department, where she was the communications supervisor for five years. Before that she was a dispatcher with the West Covina Police Department.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Tachias told the Courier about working in Beverly Hills. “It’s a great community. It’s a great department. Great people to work for.”
As Communications Manager for the BHPD, Tachias oversees 911 dispatch operations. In her role with WLLE, she will lead the organization as it faces a post-pandemic world. She previously served as secretary of the organization and has now been elected president in 2022. Tachias said WLLE provides resources, support and mentorship for its members as they advance their careers in law enforcement. She said building community relationships is a key focus for the organization.
“The really nice thing about our group is that it consists of sworn and civilian employees,” said Tachias. “So, you’re seeing different perspectives amongst people. Sometimes there’s an ‘us versus them,’ and not understanding what the other does, and so it’s really good to be able to sit and have these conversations with people and understand their perspectives.”
While WLLE has members of all genders, the organization is geared toward supporting women. Tachias said in her 16 years in law enforcement, she has seen an increasing number of women in sworn and civilian law enforcement jobs.
“Law enforcement has primarily been a male-dominated field of work,” Tachias said. “I encourage women to not be afraid and take on those challenges.”
She said the increase in women in the field is exciting to see, particularly in a political climate when fewer people are pursuing careers in police departments, according to Tachias. She added that BHPD’s connection to the community and its proactive, progressive approach to law enforcement are what attracted her to the department.
“I’m very thankful to work at a place that has community support because that’s everything,” Tachias said. “Really that’s what we’re here for–we’re all here to serve the community.”
Beverly Hills Chief of Police Mark Stainbrook told the Courier that Tachias is bringing a spotlight to the role women can pay in law enforcement.
“Thanks to Patricia’s achievements, BHPD is represented beyond this organization and past our city limits,” said Stainbrook. “As a woman in public safety, Patricia showcases the high professional standards held within our department. I believe her new leadership role will encourage others and will introduce more women in law enforcement to BHPD.”
Tachias’ father worked for the Los Angeles County Sheriff ‘s Department, and he is the one who encouraged her to find work in police dispatching. Back then she was going to college and thought she would do the police communications job while she pursued a career as a teacher. But she got hooked on law enforcement.
“My dad knew what was up, and here I am 16 years later with a job I really only intended to do for a few years while I finished school. And it turned out to be the best thing I’ve ever done,” Tachias said.
As if heading up BHPD’s 911 operations and running a trade organization was not impressive enough, Tachias is also a cancer survivor, a classically trained violinist and pianist, and the mother of a 4-year-old girl.
“Four going on 14,” she said.
Tachias was diagnosed with Stage Three breast cancer two years ago at 35. She has been in remission for a year, and she said the experience only reconfirmed for her what she already believed–positivity and relationships are all-important.
“It brought back to this job how thankful I am to be in the position that I am,” she said. “I’m so thankful for all these relationships that I have taken the time to invest in because these people were there when I needed them. And without all that support, I don’t know if I would have made it through because it was a dark time. Probably the darkest time of my life.”
Tachias said waiting for that critical 5-year remission milestone can be nerve racking, but she said the insecurities created by her illness and the instability brought by two years of pandemic have only made her more thankful. Now she is driven to bring those lessons she has learned over the last 2.5 years to her colleagues in law enforcement.
“I’m very passionate about working with people and leadership and these relationships that we can create with people and how important it is in our day-to-day lives,” said Tachias. “I’m just thankful to be in this position and to be able to work with amazing women that are on this board, and I look forward to what the future holds for our group, and for all the leaders in this county.”
