L.A.P.D. Pacific Division has a new Captain.

On May 31, Chief Bratton announced that Captain Bill Williams would be reassigned as Commanding Officer of Commercial Crimes Division effective July 1. We all respect him and the hard work he has put into improving our quality of life. He has been a friend to all of us and we will truly miss him.

Captain Joe Hiltner was recently assigned as Commanding Officer of LAX and will be promoted to Captain III and become the Commanding Officer of Pacific Area. We are looking forward to working with him and helping him to continue the good work started by Captain Williams.

Commander Kenneth Garner has been promoted to Deputy Chief and Commanding Officer of Operations - West Bureau. Commander Debra McCarthy has been reassigned as Commander of West Bureau. Captain Bill Eaton has been promoted to Captain II and will become the Commanding Officer of LAX.

Captain Justin Eisenberg, who recently joined Pacific Area as the Commander of Patrol, is now the old timer with almost two months in our community.

It will be a challenge to the community to have everyone in charge new but this will give us the opportunity to have fresh eyes that can continue the work started by Captain Williams over the past years. I know that you all join me in welcoming everyone to our community. As time allows, we will invite each of them to address our organizations and learn what their priorities are and letting them know what are ours.

submitted by Chris Williams
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Captain Joseph Hiltner was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He attended private and public schools in the Valley through his senior year of high school. Upon graduation from high school, he went on to obtain his Associate of Arts Degree in Administration of Justice from L.A. Valley College. Captain Hiltner obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University Northridge in May 1990. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

Captain Hiltner began his career with the Los Angeles Police Department as a Police Student Worker in 1976 after learning of the program from a family friend, who was a Lieutenant assigned to Community Relations with the Department. Captain Hiltner entered the Los Angeles Police Academy as a Recruit Officer on April 10, 1978.

As a Police Officer, Captain Hiltner worked assignments in Foothill Patrol, Communications Division and Southeast Patrol. In addition, he worked assignments in West Valley as a Detective Trainee and the Office of Operations, as a staff researcher.

In September 1985, Captain Hiltner promoted to Sergeant and worked Patrol in West Los Angeles and Rampart Areas. He was also assigned as the Adjutant to the Commanding Officer in Rampart Area and as a staff researcher and Officer in Charge in the Office of Operations.

In February 1994, he promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to Foothill Area as a Watch Commander through April 1998. Captain Hiltner was also assigned as the Lieutenant II Officer in Charge of the Deployment and Design Section, Office of Operations. Captain Hiltner's last assignment, prior to promoting to Captain, was as the Adjutant to the Operations-Valley Bureau Deputy Chief.

On December 11, 2005, Captain Hiltner was promoted to Captain and assigned as the Commanding Officer, Devonshire Patrol Division.

Joe is married to his wife Jennifer and enjoys being active in the community.