In a career that has spanned nearly 30 years, Langston worked on law-enforcement agencies in central California and northern Los Angeles County before taking the chief position in Signal Hill in May 2011.
He began his service in Signal Hill when the city’s new police station was being constructed, and he led the department’s transition into the new facility, beginning in January 2013.
Mayor Lori Woods called Langston one of Signal Hill’s greatest assets in recent years.
“Chief Langston has brought his years of dedicated training and experience to enhance the safety and security of Signal Hill residents and businesses,” Woods said. “Chief Langston beautifully managed the move of our police department to its new state-of-the-art facility and has created and coordinated enhanced community-policing policies and programs.”
She said Langston is “greatly admired” by his own staff and officers and that the city council has relied on his common-sense approach to problem solving.
“He has a deep concern for the safety of our city, the safety of his officers and the professionalism of the Signal Hill Police Department,” Woods said. “We will miss his leadership throughout our community and appreciate the solidly trained officers and well managed police department that he will leave to his successor.”
According to a press release issued last week by the SHPD, Langston facilitated development of the department’s strategic plan, which focused on maintaining a positive culture, recognizing the department’s employees, expanding on community-outreach efforts and utilizing technology.
During Langston’s tenure in Signal Hill, the SHPD became the first law-enforcement agency in L.A. County to equip all field personnel with body-worn cameras. Now, the department is also teaming up with L.A. County court officials to commence the use of electronic citations as well as electronically transferring official records, according to the SHPD.
Langston also coordinated the development of the Southeast Regional Mental Health Evaluation Team to provide services to those who need them by pairing police officers with mental-health workers. In addition to Signal Hill, the team serves South Gate, Huntington Park, Downey, Bell, Bell Gardens and Vernon.
Additionally, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Langston to a two-year term on the State’s 9-1-1 Advisory Board in 2013.
The police chief also serves on the Peace Officer Standards and Training Public Safety Dispatcher Advisory Committee, the California Police Chiefs Association’s Finance Committee, the L.A. County Police Chiefs Association, Southeast Police Chiefs Association and the International Association of Police Chiefs.
“I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to land here in Signal Hill and work with the finest police officers, professional staff and a city council that works together for the benefit of the community,” Langston said. “The Signal Hill community itself is full of great people who care about their city, and it has been great serving here.”
Langston added that, “The most important decision that any good leader can make is to know when it is time to go, and that time is fast approaching for me.”
Near press time, Signal Hill City Manager Charlie Honeycutt said he would be scheduling a time to discuss with the city council how they would like to proceed with filling the police chief vacancy.
“Signal Hill has been very fortunate to have had Chief Langston serve as our chief of police, and I have really enjoyed working with him over the past several years,” Honeycutt said. “[Langston] has successfully increased the police department’s connection with the community, which is one of the reasons why the Signal Hill Police Department is so well respected.”
