Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel is a 22-year law enforcement veteran who has been with the Irvine Police Department (IPD) since 1995. He is the first Irvine Police Chief to rise through the ranks from police officer to Chief from within the IPD organization.
Chief Hamel began his law enforcement career in 1993 with the Los Angeles Police Department, where he was the Honor Graduate from the Los Angeles Police Academy and worked as a police officer and traffic officer. In 1995, he laterally transferred to IPD, where he worked in various assignments throughout the Department including as a patrol officer, field training officer, SWAT officer, crimes against persons detective, and community service officer coordinator.
In 1999, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and served as a patrol sergeant and the Crimes Against Persons Detective Sergeant. He was again promoted in 2004 to the rank of lieutenant, first assuming responsibility for the IPD Investigations Bureau and then as the Training and Recruitment Lieutenant.
In 2007, Chief Hamel was promoted to Area Commander and assumed full responsibility for crime, traffic and quality of life issues in his geographic region. During this time, he also served as the area liaison to schools, businesses, community organizations and the public.
In 2012, he was promoted to Deputy Police Chief, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Department. He served in this invaluable role until his appointment to the role of Chief of Police in 2015.
Chief Hamel is a Board Member for Team Kids, Inc. and a Governing Board Member for Community Services Programs – Victim Assistance Programs (CSP- VAP).
Chief Hamel has been recognized for his work in victim advocacy programs. In 2007, he authored a countywide model for comprehensive victim services that was adopted by the Orange County Chiefs’ of Police and Sheriff’s Association. He has presented at several related conferences nationally and has received awards for his work in this area including the Ambassador of Peace award from the Violence Prevention Coalition of Orange County and the Outstanding Victim Service Provider from CSP-VAP. Chief Hamel has also been a recipient of the IPD Meritorious Service Award for his work in the Investigations Division during the transition to Geographic Policing in 2002, and was selected as Most Inspirational Student at the Peace Officer Standards and Training Command College.
Chief Hamel is especially proud of his work promoting health and wellness in the Department. Under his leadership, a comprehensive, evidence-based fitness program has been implemented, designed to enhance overall wellness while reducing the risks of on-the-job injuries.
Chief Hamel has over 10 years of formal teaching and training experience in the areas of leadership, organizational management and customer service. His experience includes serving as an instructor for the International Association of Chiefs’ of Police flagship leadership development program, which is modeled after West Point’s leadership training program.
Chief Hamel holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy Administration from California State University, Long Beach, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society from the University of California, Irvine.
He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, the International Association of Chiefs’ of Police Leadership in Police Organizations Program, and Peace Officer Standards and Training Command College.
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Time: 12:00pm
Venue: Pacifica Institute, Orange County
18022 Cowan #100, Irvine, CA 92614
RSVP