Three of Long Beach’s top public safety leaders are retiring within weeks of one another, bringing major leadership changes to the city’s police, fire and emergency preparedness operations less than two years before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan announced his retirement Wednesday, just one week after Police Chief Wally Hebeish announced he would step down at the end of December.
Their departures follow the retirement of Reginald “Reggie” Harrison, the city’s longtime director of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, whose last day was last Thursday.
The announcements come as Long Beach faces significant budget cuts affecting police and fire services, while preparing to host several Olympic and Paralympic competitions in 2028.
Buchanan will retire on Dec. 11 after more than 33 years with the Long Beach Fire Department.
He became chief in February 2023, making history as the department’s first Black and Latino fire chief.
Buchanan rose through the ranks after serving as a firefighter, paramedic and recruit trainer. During his tenure as chief, the department opened Fire Stations 20 and 9 and added a 24-hour ambulance unit.
“For more than three decades, Chief Buchanan has answered the call to serve Long Beach,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “I am grateful for his partnership, leadership and the example he has set for future generations.”
Richardson also acknowledged the timing of Buchanan’s departure as the city prepares for the Olympics.
“As we prepare for the department’s next chapter and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we will build on the foundation he helped establish,” the mayor said.
The announcement did not specify Buchanan’s reason for retiring.
City Manager Tom Modica plans to conduct a nationwide search for Buchanan’s replacement, considering candidates from both inside and outside the department. The city expects to select a new fire chief in early 2027.
Buchanan’s departure also comes after a difficult budget cycle for the Fire Department. The city’s adopted budget included the elimination of dozens of positions and the closure of Engine 14, which served neighborhoods near Colorado Lagoon.
The reductions prompted concerns about emergency response times, with city officials acknowledging that eliminating the engine would affect service in surrounding neighborhoods.
Buchanan’s retirement announcement comes exactly one week after Hebeish announced he would retire Dec. 31, ending a 32-year law enforcement career.
Hebeish has led the Long Beach Police Department since December 2021, overseeing approximately 1,200 employees, including more than 800 sworn officers.
In his retirement statement, Hebeish thanked the department and city leadership for supporting him through what he described as some of the most challenging years in modern law enforcement.
“It has been an incredible honor to stand alongside the dedicated men and women of the Long Beach Police Department in service of our community,” Hebeish said.
Hebeish’s tenure included efforts to expand police recruitment, reduce gun violence, strengthen employee wellness programs and improve community relationships.
The department also faced challenges involving staffing shortages, response times and a rise in fatal traffic collisions.
The city is launching a national recruitment process to replace Hebeish, with community input and interviews involving technical panels and city department directors.
Modica will make the final selection, with a new police chief expected to be announced in early 2027.
Richardson has also connected the search for a new police chief to Olympic preparations, saying the city wants a leader who can maintain public safety and readiness as Long Beach welcomes visitors from around the world in 2028.
The leadership changes extend beyond police and fire.
Harrison retired last Thursday after 30 years with the city. He had served as the founding director of the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications since 2014.
The department oversees citywide emergency planning, 911 communications and homeland security preparedness programs.
During Harrison’s tenure, the city established a backup 911 communications center, expanded emergency notification capabilities and developed comprehensive evacuation and shelter-in-place plans.
“I am deeply proud of the work our team has accomplished together in building a more resilient Long Beach,” Harrison said in his retirement announcement.
Harrison said he plans to travel and spend time with family during retirement.
Modica appointed Kevin Lee, the city’s chief communications officer, to serve as acting director while Long Beach conducts a national recruitment for a permanent replacement.
The department plays a central role in coordinating responses to major emergencies, including natural disasters, public safety incidents and large-scale events.
Its next director will take over as Long Beach continues preparing emergency operations and communications systems for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The departures do not necessarily indicate a disruption to public safety preparations. However, they mean three departments responsible for protecting residents and responding to emergencies will undergo significant leadership changes as the city moves closer to hosting the Games.
With less than two years remaining, the question facing Long Beach is who will lead those departments into the Olympics and how the city will ensure continuity in public safety and emergency planning during the transition.
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