Paul Tanaka
Encyclopedia
Paul K. Tanaka. Mayor
, City of Gardena. Assistant Sheriff
, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
A 26 year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
, Tanaka has recently been promoted to Assistant Sheriff of Los Angeles County under Sheriff Lee Baca in January 2005 and elected Mayor of the City of Gardena, CA
in March 2005.
As one of two Assistant Sheriffs and the first Japanese American
in the position, Tanaka directly oversees the department's Administrative Services, Correctional Services, Custody Operations, Court Services and Technical Services divisions. Tanaka is also a long time Gardena resident who has been active in local government since his election to the city council in March 1999.
A multitasker, Tanaka is respected in his community, having gained more votes than any other council candidate during his reelection campaign in 2003 and elected mayor with a 62% of the vote. He has been responsible for bringing the City of Gardena from a $5.2 million deficit to more than a $2 million surplus in his 4 years as Chair of the City’s Finance Committee while simultaneously serving as a Chief in the LA County Sheriff's Department directing the Administrative Services Division, where he managed more than 900 employees and a department budget of $1.7 billion.
A career law enforcement officer, Tanka initially joined the El Segundo
police department in 1980. Transferring to the LA County Sheriff's Department two years later, he quickly rose through the ranks, earning his stripes in 1987, and making Lieutenant in 1991. Tanaka then rose from Lieutenant to Captain in 1999, Commander in 2001 and Chief in 2002. While critics point to his alleged affiliation with the "Vikings", a secret police organization brought to light amidst police misconduct litigation in 1990, it cannot be disputed that he has shown proven results and is well respected among his colleagues.
Raised in Gardena where he has lived for 37 years, Tanaka attended local schools and received an accounting degree from Loyola Marymount University
. He is also a Certified Public Accountant
and serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Go For Broke Foundation, the East West Players and serves on the board of the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, City of Gardena. Assistant Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
A 26 year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
, Tanaka has recently been promoted to Assistant Sheriff of Los Angeles County under Sheriff Lee Baca in January 2005 and elected Mayor of the City of Gardena, CA
Gardena, California
Gardena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 58,829 at the 2010 census, up from 57,746 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gardena is located at ....
in March 2005.
As one of two Assistant Sheriffs and the first Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
in the position, Tanaka directly oversees the department's Administrative Services, Correctional Services, Custody Operations, Court Services and Technical Services divisions. Tanaka is also a long time Gardena resident who has been active in local government since his election to the city council in March 1999.
A multitasker, Tanaka is respected in his community, having gained more votes than any other council candidate during his reelection campaign in 2003 and elected mayor with a 62% of the vote. He has been responsible for bringing the City of Gardena from a $5.2 million deficit to more than a $2 million surplus in his 4 years as Chair of the City’s Finance Committee while simultaneously serving as a Chief in the LA County Sheriff's Department directing the Administrative Services Division, where he managed more than 900 employees and a department budget of $1.7 billion.
A career law enforcement officer, Tanka initially joined the El Segundo
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
police department in 1980. Transferring to the LA County Sheriff's Department two years later, he quickly rose through the ranks, earning his stripes in 1987, and making Lieutenant in 1991. Tanaka then rose from Lieutenant to Captain in 1999, Commander in 2001 and Chief in 2002. While critics point to his alleged affiliation with the "Vikings", a secret police organization brought to light amidst police misconduct litigation in 1990, it cannot be disputed that he has shown proven results and is well respected among his colleagues.
Raised in Gardena where he has lived for 37 years, Tanaka attended local schools and received an accounting degree from Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
. He is also a Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
and serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Go For Broke Foundation, the East West Players and serves on the board of the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law.