Los Angeles Police Department Audit Unit
Session Overview:
Law Enforcement Performance Auditing Background, Performance Measures, Addressing Critical Issues, Consent Decree Settlements, Ethical Dilemmas. The establishment of Audit Division – LAPD, Types of Audit, Process/Review and Approval, Value of Audits.
Jodi Wakefield, CRMA, Commander - LAPD Audit Unit (retired)
Bio:
Jodi retired from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as a Captain III after 32 ½ years of service. She worked a variety of assignments that covered the three major law enforcement functions: patrol, detectives, and administration. Her skills include leadership, effectively dealing with complex personnel issues, and organizational accountability methods and techniques
Jodi’s 16 years of management and leadership experience includes six years as a lieutenant in several challenging assignments including patrol watch commander, the Officer-in-Charge of the Recruitment and Background Investigations, and the Officer-in-Charge of Employee Relations in the Office of the Chief of Police.
After her promotion to Captain, she was assigned to the Central Patrol Division (Downtown Los Angeles). Within two years, she was elevated to a senior captain as Commanding Officer of Central Area and gained overall responsibility for all patrol, detective, specialized operations. Her replacement as the patrol commanding officer was another female captain-giving Jodi the distinction of heading the first all-female command in the history of the LAPD. As the Area Commanding Officer, Jodi successfully managed the Skid Row “Safer Cities Initiative”, numerous civil demonstrations, oversaw the opening of the multi-billion-dollar entertainment destination- LA Live and provided police services to multi-cultural business and residential stakeholders.
Jodi’s last assignment in the LAPD was the Commanding Officer of Audit Division (AD). This vital management and accountability command was a critical part of compliance to the LAPD Federal Consent Decree and helped result in the completion of the decree mandates. With the ever-growing demand for management accountability within law enforcement and by the public, LAPD AD became world renowned for police performance audits and its highly successful Audit School. Under her leadership, members of AD traveled around the United States providing training to other law enforcement agencies regarding police performance auditing and accountability. A highlight of her career was the US Department of Justice specifically asked Jodi and her team to travel to Kosovo and provide the school to Kosovo’s law enforcement investigators. The experience culminated with her meeting the President of Kosovo, who personally thanked the LAPD for the training.
Jodi possesses a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles; and is a graduate of the West Point Leadership Program and the Southern California Leadership Network and has several certifications in auditing (risk management), as well as the President of the International Law Enforcement Auditor’s Association. She holds California Peace Officers Standards and Training Certificates at the basic, supervisory and management levels.
Contact Jodi at captmom1283@gmail.com