Paul LeBaron

Paul LeBaron is a 32-year law enforcement professional with a proven record of executive leadership, organizational transformation, and community-focused policing. He served 27 years with the Long Beach Police Department, where he held diverse leadership roles in administration, investigations, and patrol operations, ultimately rising to the rank of Commander. From 2020 to 2025, he served as the 11th Chief of Police for the Hermosa Beach Police Department, where he led a department recognized for its innovation, full staffing, and strong organizational culture. During his tenure, the department maintained a 100% employee retention rate and was noted for its inclusive recruitment strategies, specifically through increasing the representation of women in law enforcement.

As a consultant with the JL Group, Paul specializes in comprehensive organizational assessments by evaluating leadership roles, internal culture, and systemic challenges. He led the creating of two nationally recognized programs: the Leadership and Mentoring Program (LAMP), which focuses on developing internal talent, and the Police Grappling and Control Techniques (PGCT) course, designed to modernize use-of-force training. His work and insights have been shared at major law enforcement conferences, including those hosted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), FBI National Academy Association (FBINAA), Women Leaders in Law Enforcement (WLLE), and the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA). Topics presented include recruitment and retention of the new generation employee, succession planning, first responder wellness, and leading cultural change.

In addition to his consulting work, Paul serves as an adjunct faculty member at California State University, Long Beach, where he teaches upper-division courses in criminal justice. He is also a long-standing educator at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance, where he facilitates leadership and ethics training for law enforcement executives and community leaders. Paul holds a Master of Arts in Management and Organizational Leadership from American Military University, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach, and a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the USC Executive Leadership Institute, and the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute. Fluent in Spanish and deeply committed to public service, Paul brings both cultural fluency and operational insight to every project he undertakes.