Meet LAPD Captain Tom on Pali Podcast

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The Los Angeles Police Department West LA division has a new captain in charge—and community members will have the chance to meet him on the February episode of Palisades Podcast.

Captain Jonathan Tom, who has been in the service of LAPD for 24 years and captain for five years in several commands, will join podcast hosts Maryam Zar and Steve Cron for a one-hour discussion.

Tom began his career in Olympic in the detective division, followed by the Rampart Patrol division, the South Traffic division and then West Los Angeles as commanding officer.

“Captain Tom follows Captain Vic Davalos, who followed Captain Valencia Thomas who followed Captain Tina Nieto, who was a friend and ally to Pacific Palisades and was instrumental in securing the beach detail we so rely on today,” Zar explained ahead of the episode. “Captain Tom has become familiar with the Palisades already, having participated in the Pacific Palisades homeless count, introduced himself to the community council and met with community leaders.”

There are approximately 240 people under Tom’s command, including 23 detectives, 163 officers and seven senior lead officers, which represent communities from the Palisades to Brentwood, Bel Air, Cheviot Hills, Westwood and more.

Zar added that Tom was originally a business major with a degree in business administration from USC.

“He went into real estate, following in the footsteps of his family business, after which he attended law school and worked as a law clerk for the city attorney’s office,” Zar explained. “He is a first generation American of Chinese heritage and has a wife and son, whom he raises to be a proud American that is both cognizant of his history and proud of his diversity.

“Captain Tom’s modus operandi has always been to engage the community, and he aims to do just that here in Pacific Palisades. We are happy to welcome him and look forward to getting to know him better.”

The Palisadian-Post has teamed up with longtime community members Zar and Cron to present the Palisades Podcast. Each month, we will bring you an interview, hosted by Zar and Cron, highlighting extraordinary lives you might not otherwise have a chance to meet.

Each third Thursday of the month, listeners can check out the Post to find out who the featured guest will be before the episode is released.

Cron, who graduated from Hastings College of Law in 1973, is currently serving as the Area 2 representative, which covers The Highlands, on the Pacific Palisades Community Council. Cron has been an adjunct professor at the Pepperdine University School of Law since 2003 and partner at the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark since 1980.

Zar’s local service includes serving as the founding chair of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness and a former chair of PPCC, as well as sitting on the Pacific Palisades Park Advisory Board, Pacific Palisades YMCA and Pacific Palisades Design Review Board.

To listen to episodes of the Palisades Podcast, visit palipost.com/palipodcast.