Local News in Brief : New Community Safety Director
Lawrence G. Olson, a 20-year veteran in law enforcement and firefighting from the San Francisco area, has been appointed Carson’s community safety director.
He replaces Joe Medina, who served in the post on an interim basis for a year.
Olson, whose annual salary will be $48,062, will oversee a department with a $7-million budget, the largest portion of which goes to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and the county Fire Department, which provide fire and police protection under a contract with the city.
Before coming to Carson, Olson was assistant general manager in charge of public safety for the East Bay Regional Park District near San Francisco, where he worked for 17 years.
In addition, he owned a private security firm offering consulting services. He also organized the Moraga Police Department and then served as chief for five years while working for the park district and administering the Redwood Canyon Fire Protection District.
Olson holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the UC Berkeley and a law degree from Golden Gate University. He began his career in law enforcement as an officer and sergeant with the Berkeley Police Department.
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