Ron Walsh resigns as Long Beach's police commissioner

The City of Long Beach announced Monday that Police Commissioner Ron Walsh has resigned. 

Inspector Richard DePalma will assume the position of acting police commissioner until a permanent replacement is named. 

During Walsh's tenure, the department saw a marked increase in hiring and the first approval of negotiated contracts by the Police Benevolent Association and Commanding Officers Association in decades. 

"It has been my honor and privilege to serve this Department and the residents of Long Beach," Walsh said. "I am immensely proud of the progress we have made over the past three years and offer my respect and gratitude to the dedicated individuals who comprise the department". 

In addition to his role as police commissioner, Walsh served as Long Beach's acting city manager from January 2023 through January 2024. On Jan. 2, the Long Beach City Council appointed Daniel Creighton as the new city manager. 

"On behalf of the City, I thank Commissioner Walsh for his unwavering dedication to the City of Long Beach and its residents," said Creighton. "Under his leadership, the city made tremendous progress on enhancing safety and delivering an efficient and effective model of policing. He has been invaluable and selfless during our administrative transition and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward". 

Acting Police Commissioner DePalma began his career with the New York Police Department in 1997. He joined the Long Beach Police Department in January 2002 and has held the position of officer, sergeant, lieutenant, deputy inspector, executive officer and inspector.