Captain III Michael Lorenz is a 27-year veteran and second-generation police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. He grew up in Long Beach, California, and attended Long Beach Jordan High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps, participating in two deployments to the Middle East, and achieved the rank of Sergeant.
In 1999, he began his career with the Los Angeles Police Department. He served as a Police Officer in multiple Divisions, which consisted of Southeast Division (Watts Area), Hollenbeck Division (East Los Angeles Area), and 77th Street Patrol Division (South Los Angeles Area).
In 2007, Captain Lorenz was promoted to the rank of Detective. He held investigative and supervisory assignments at Central Division (Downtown Area), Force Investigation Division, 77th Street Detective Division, and Olympic Detective Division (Koreatown Area). During this time, Captain Lorenz achieved upgrades to Detective Supervisor II and Detective Supervisor III.
In 2020, he further broadened his experience and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He proudly served as a Watch Commander in Hollywood Division during the 2020 Civil Unrest. He marked this as one of the best moments of his career, as he watched his officers overcome negative social stigmas, remained disciplined to the mission, and had the most rewarding times of their career.
In 2021, Captain Lorenz returned to 77th Street Division for the third time in his career, where he was upgraded to Lieutenant II and assigned as the Detective Commanding Officer. Captain Lorenz was known for reminding everyone that the 77th Street Detective Division was the best investigative command in the country, and he was very proud to serve alongside those he worked with throughout his investigative career.
In 2023, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned as the Patrol Commanding Officer at Southwest Division. This assignment included over 320 sworn and civilian employees who provide crucial police services to the South Los Angeles Area, which includes the University of Southern California (USC), the Los Angeles Coliseum, BMO Stadium, and surrounding neighborhoods. During this time, Captain Lorenz was critical in making sound decisions to resolve the protests on USC's campus.
In 2024, he was upgraded to Captain III and assigned to Community Safety Partnership Bureau (CSPB). The officers in his command utilize community relations, programming, and enforcement strategies to simultaneously strengthen trust between law enforcement and the community and reduce crime at CSPB Sites in South Los Angeles. Those sites include Nickerson Gardens, Imperial Courts, Jordan Downs, and Avalon Gardens housing developments, as well as Algin Sutton and Harvard Parks.
Captain Lorenz has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Management and a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership, showcasing his commitment to continuous learning and professional development.