Robert Almada, Captain - Operations Division

Captain Robert Almada began his service with the Santa Monica Police Department over 28 years ago, starting as a Police Cadet in 1990. He is currently assigned as the commander of the Operations Division, overseeing patrol and field operations conducted by both sworn and civilian personnel. Captain Almada became a Police Officer in 1991, serving in patrol, the Crime Impact Team and as a narcotics investigator. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1996 and spent the next 15 years working a variety of assignments of increasing responsibility including patrol supervision, implementation and supervision of the Special Policing District bicycle unit, supervisor of the narcotics and vice units, supervisor of the multi-disciplinary Santa Monica Arson Task Force, supervisor of the Robbery Homicide Unit, assignments with a variety of local, state and federal taskforces; as well as serving as the adjutant to three separate chiefs of police. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2012 and served as a watch commander and the executive officer of the administrative services division.

Several significant emergencies and planned events have provided Captain Almada with an opportunity to lead during crisis including: the July 4^th 2000 Pier Shooting, the 2003 Farmers' Market Tragedy, and the 2011 Synagogue Bombing. He has led the criminal investigations and planning efforts for these and numerous other major incidents. Those experiences have underscored the importance of preparedness, communication, coordination, and organizational readiness.

In 2013, then Lieutenant Almada was selected to lead the City's Office of Emergency Management as the Emergency Services Manager. In this capacity, he was charged with continuing the emergency preparedness efforts began by the previous Emergency Service Manager (Captain Ken Semko) as well as creating a new Public Safety Communications Center (PSC) to handle 911 calls and dispatch services for the Police and Fire Departments. The PSC serves to provide a high level of service to the community and improved situational awareness for first responders. During his tenure with OEM, the quantity and variety of cached emergency supplies was dramatically increased, and the number and types of emergency preparedness topics presented were expanded to include: business continuity, shelter operations training for City Staff, workplace safety, surviving an active shooter, and emergency preparedness for pet owners. Captain Almada has been a featured speaker and instructor at the RAND Corporation, California Emergency Services Association (CESA), City of Oxnard, Santa Monica CERT and at several southern California schools and colleges, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Captain Almada is actively engaged in our community and volunteers in numerous ways including: serving as a board member of the Santa Monica Police Activities League, volunteer football coach and athletic mentor at Santa Monica High School; participating in National Prayer Day and memorial services, participating as an enthusiastic member of the Santa Monica Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees); as well as fundraising for Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross and other local charities.

Captain Almada received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach; a Master's Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge; as well as a certificate in Leadership from the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.  Captain Almada is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) presented by the California Police Chiefs Association in partnership with the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.  Captain Almada is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and is an instructor of Ethics and Leadership with the City's Santa Monica Institute (SMi).