Inglewood police captain and 29-year law enforcement veteran Eve Irvine, 47, was appointed last week to become the city’s next police chief, replacing Chief Rod Uyeda, who will retire on May 23.
Irvine will become the first female chief in Manhattan Beach’s history when she begins on June 1 – a distinction she can add to a list of accomplishments that already includes her appointment as the first female police captain in Inglewood, as well as spanning 120 miles in an on-foot relay from Baker to Vegas every year.
Irvine was one of 78 applicants for the position, according to City Manager Dave Carmany, since Uyeda announced his resignation in December. Last week, Mayor Richard Montgomery welcomed Irvine to the city and she was introduced to staff.
“What’s not to attract me to Manhattan Beach?” Irvine said in an interview this week. “The police department there is an outstanding organization; the professionalism there is unparalleled; the community is supportive; it’s a safe community; and such a great place to work.”
Irvine, a New York native, lives in Orange County with her husband, a Torrance police lieutenant. The couple has three adult children.
Carmany, who appointed Irvine, said that she will be able to continue and further the community’s tradition of professional law enforcement, with a focus on community policing and running the department with “the highest levels of integrity.”
“She is a consummate professional who stands for the values of fair and impartial law enforcement,” Carmany said in a statement. “She is highly energetic, as well as compassionate and is ready to hit the ground running.”
Irvine started with IPD as a police cadet in 1982 and two years later became an officer, attending the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Police Academy. She was later appointed to the position of D.A.R.E. officer, to detective in 1990, to sergeant in 1994, and to acting lieutenant and watch commander in 1997. As a detective, Irvine became nationally recognized in the area of domestic violence and worked assignments in sex crimes, child abuse, assaults and robbery. In 1999, she was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and became an adjutant to the IPD chief, also commanding the department’s Community Affairs and Internal Affairs sections. She also served as a public information officer and in 2003 was promoted to the rank of captain and began overseeing police training and personnel. The following year, Irvine assumed command of the department’s Patrol Bureau.
Irvine received a bachelor of science in business and management from the University of Redlands and a master of business administration from the University of La Verne. She is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and California’s POST Command College.
“Ms. Irvine’s law enforcement career speaks volumes about forming effective partnerships with the community, and collaborating to confront community problems,” Carmany said. “She brings tremendous experience in all aspects of municipal policing and has a comprehensive understanding of police management along with a track record of providing proven results in a demanding, high pace organization. Serving in the South Bay for nearly 30 years, she has vast knowledge of policing issues in the area and has formed great relationships with all of our neighboring cities. These and her extensive knowledge of Manhattan Beach were instrumental in her selection.”
Uyeda called Irvine “the perfect choice” for the department, evidenced by the fact that she worked her way up the ranks in a fast-paced agency.
“There is nothing that could happen that she hasn’t already handled and will be able to quickly make rock solid decisions…she is very well thought of and respected by virtually all who know her,” Uyeda said.
