David Livingstone Opinion Piece

The head of the Simi Valley police department, David Livingstone, has decided to retire after an incredible thirty-four years as an officer and six years as head of department. The job has proven to be a time-consuming one, and David hopes to use his retirement for some well-deserved time with his wife and children. Starting as a parking enforcement officer in 1988, Livingstone worked his way up to the top. He will retire his position at the age of 54 on December 16th of this year.

The department David was head of was quite large and had about 115 officers as well as 60 support staff. Working with and managing that many people has not been easy, and David called the job “all-consuming”. Despite the hard work and long hours, David says his career was a rewarding one and that his decision to leave has been bittersweet.

As a kid, David was uninterested in becoming a police officer. Livingstone first started considering a law-enforcement career when he was eighteen years old and worked in a doughnut shop. Local law enforcement would frequent the shop and David soon began making connections. Only one year later, at the age of 19, he went on his first patrol. Over the next thirty-four years he climbed the ranks and eventually made it to the top.

Livingstone leaves behind a department made much better by his actions over the years. Thanks to him and his officers, Simi Valley saw some of its lowest crime rates in history. The Simi Valley Police Department was also able to obtain body cameras and other much needed equipment with David’s guidance. The cameras have already come in handy, including during two officer-involved shootings, allowing for much more transparency behind officers’ actions.

On top of spending more time with family, Livingstone also hopes to teach, travel, and finish writing up a book of his. Despite wanting to move on, David says that he will miss working for Simi Valley. Both David and his own family were born and raised here. For his last day on the job, David wants to go out on patrol and serve the community however he can.

Livingstone moves on with a lot of praise from many of his officers, as well as the mayor who thanked David “for being a wonderful police chief and leader during turbulent times” according to the Simi Valley Acorn. Steve Shorts, the assistant police chief, has worked with Livingstone for over twenty-one years. Steve said David was a great mentor and was a personable, easygoing person who considered the perspectives of everyone in the community.

Simi Valley has begun the process of finding and hiring a new police chief. In September, the City Council authorized city staff to begin finding a new police chief. City manager Brian Gabler told the Acorn that it takes in the range of 90 to 120 days to fill a position of that level. Praise for David comes from every angle, and the city wishes him well.