Two Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) officers have received doctorate degrees in Organizational Leadership from the University of LaVerne. The completion of the Ph.D. program will aid Lieutenant Jesse Perez and Captain Giovanni Trejo in their roles as leaders of the department as well as the entire community. It also inspired each of them to shape the future of policing in their own way.
Perez and Trejo both worked as full-time officers while completing the degree requirements, including writing in-depth dissertation papers to sum up their research in the program. Both of them also have families at home. Receiving these degrees represents dedication to their team and to the field through persistence and sacrifice.
Trejo started his academic journey in 2020, after he was inspired by a tense relationship between the public and law enforcement to reshape the way they connect with one another. He remembers watching police officers around the country fail to diligently practice law enforcement procedures. He explained what he saw around the country as “less traditional police procedures,” such as an increasing number of traffic stops for minor offenses such as broken taillights. He recalls a specific incident in Memphis, Tennessee, where five officers stopped a Black man, Tyre Nichols, for reckless driving. The incident resulted in Nichols being pulled from his vehicle and then beaten until he was in a coma and later died. This, among many other violent incidents between police and the public that year prompted Trejo to pursue what he calls a “meaningful systemic change” through higher education.
His dissertation entitled “Organizational Change in Law Enforcement: Exploring the Use of Change Management Practices of Police Executives Adopting Less Traditional Patrol Procedures” discusses ways in which some police chiefs have rebuilt trust within their communities by going against state laws to not stop vehicles with low-level traffic violations. “My study actually included just police chiefs because they’re the ones that head the organizations and they’re the ones that promote and can create the change at the top,” Trejo told the Courier.
By addressing issues that have taken place throughout the country, he hopes to inspire other officers on the BHPD team. One of the most important aspects he wants to bring to Beverly Hills is an increase in dialogue between the community and law enforcement. “I think it’s necessary to build those relationships and bridges between us, the police, and the community to make sure that we engage in constructive and positive conversations,” the captain said.
As he worked overtime to complete his degree requirements, his family was right alongside him. One of his sons was just beginning his college journey, and his other son was pursuing his master’s degree. Trejo overcame mental hurdles at home, at work and in his personal life. “[The program] placed a lot of demands on time and occupied a lot of my mental space to say it that way, where most of my thoughts, most of my time was dedicated to my program,” he told the Courier. His dedication to making an impact in his field and the support of his community ultimately pushed him through.
Perez was also a huge support for Trejo as he embarked on his own academic journey. The BHPD officer entered the program as a Patrol Lieutenant-Watch Commander and SWAT/CNT Commander with 21 years of experience in the field. Throughout his doctorate program, he combined his research with knowledge that couldn’t be gained in the classroom. His research paper titled “Law Enforcement and Advanced Drone Technology: A Comprehensive Inside Look at the Use and Implementation of Law Enforcement Drone Technology and Its Effect on Officer Safety, Police Culture, and Public Perception” discusses the potential of drone technology, and he plans to use this information to further the potential of police drones in Beverly Hills. “I’ve always been fascinated by the interwoven relationship of technology and law enforcement,” he told the Courier. “And in this day and age in 21st-century policing, one of the pillars is to introduce technology into our profession in a transparent and equitable way, but in partnership with the community.”
Perez also wants to increase transparency with the public about drone usage, especially after the May 7 City Council meeting, where he discussed the potential to differentiate police drones from those that are illegal. “Part of our partnership with the community is a ‘no call too small’ mentality,” he told the Courier. His hope is for residents to feel comfortable communicating with the police department about potential concerns on a regular basis. Members of the community can report drones at any time by calling 310-550-4951.
Though he’s excited that BHPD is at the forefront of police drone technology, Perez made it clear that there’s no replacement for the officers on the ground. “The brave men and women who wear the Beverly Hills patch and badge—every day they go out to protect the community,” he said. “[Drones] keep us safe; it keeps the community safe. However, it is those individuals who risk their lives every day to hold the line and keep the community safe.”
Chief of Police Mark Stainbrook congratulated both of the officers on their academic achievements in a written statement on May 28, which said, “The department looks forward to the continued impact of their contributions on law enforcement practices and the broader community.”
