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Lita Abella
Owner
CA PI #22102

SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE

Lita Abella has investigated, supervised and/or consulted in over 2000 cases involving law enforcement policies and procedures, police related civil litigation and criminal cases.  She has received extensive training and has testified in city, county, and state cases in the areas of:

Police Training
Police Tactics
Law Enforcement Organization and Administration
Police Procedures and Practices
Law Enforcement Management
Use of Force
Police Ethics and Professionalism
Narcotic Enforcement and Tactics
Vice Enforcement and Tactics
Traffic Enforcement and Tactics
Community Policing

Certificates Held

California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, (POST) certifications:

Basic Certification, 1982
Intermediate Certification, 1990
Advance Certification, 1993
Supervisory Certification, 1994
Management Certification, 1998

Los Angeles Police Department & POST Schools and other specialized training:

LAPD Vice School, 1984
LAPD Sergeant School, 1985
LAPD Detective School, 1991
LAPD Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) School, 1990
POST Certified Jail Management, 1992
POST Supervisory Leadership Institute, 1993
Standardized Emergency Management Systems, 1996
LAPD Command Officer Program, 1996
POST Management Course, Calif. State University Northridge, 1996
LAPD Instructor Development Course, 1997
Legal Investigations Certificate, Calif State University Pomona 2000
21 hours of MCLE and Legal Specialization Credit, CACJ/CPDA Seminar 2001

Plus approximately 4000 hours of POST certified schools, courses, seminars, and classes (1980 to present)

Education

Juris Doctorate:
Western State University, Fullerton, CA, 2004

Master of Science:
Business Administration
Ca. St. Polytechnic Univ. of Pomona, Pomona, CA (In progress)

Bachelor of Science:
Business Management
University of Phoenix, Diamond Bar, CA, 1999

Associate of Science:
Administration of Justice
Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA, 1995

Affiliations

Past and present memberships in:

America Film Institute (AFI)
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)
Association of Litigation Support Specialists (ALISS)
California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)
Christopher Commission Disciplinary Task Force Committee:
    Researcher In the Course of Change:
    The Los Angeles Police Department Five Years After the
    Christopher Commission
Hispanic Law Enforcement Administrators (HLEA)
LAPD Child Care Committee, Board of Director
LAPD Advisory Affirmative Action Committee (AAAC)
Los Angeles County Peace Officers Association (LACPOA)
Law Enforcement Administrators of Asian Pacific (LEAAP)
Los Angeles Police Protective League, Delegate (LAPPL)
LAPPL Blue Line Newspaper: Reporter, Writer, Researcher
Los Angeles Women Police Officer's Association, Vice President
LAWPOA Newsletter: Writer & Publisher
Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
2000 SAG Nominating Committee
Walnut Valley Chamber of Commerce
Western State University Alumni Association Board of Directors

Career Highlights

Lita Abella, a native of Los Angeles, gained her investigative experience as a 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).  She worked various job assignments in patrol, investigations, undercover, administrative, and supervisory.  She rose from the ranks of police officer, training officer, senior lead officer (the first female senior lead in LAPD history), detective, sergeant, and lieutenant.   

During her tenure on the Department, Lita was on the Los Angeles Police Historical Society (LAPHS) Board of Directors, a member of the LAPD Child Care Committee, the Hispanic Law Enforcement Administrators (HLEA), Police Officers of Los Angeles County (POLAC), Recruitment and Entry Level Oral Cadre, and a delegate for the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL).  

Lita served on the LAPD Honor Guard for 13 years and was awarded the Unit Citation and the Police Commission Meritorious Unit Citation for her outstanding years of professionalism and dedication to duty.   She was the vice-president of the Los Angeles Women Police Officers Association (LAWPOA) from 1995 to 1998 and the co-chair for the LAWPOA Second Annual Celebrity Benefit Fund Raiser in 1995.  She has also served on the LAPD Advisory Affirmative Action Committee (AAAC) and the Police Commission Disciplinary Task Force Committee.  She worked on the report, In the Course of Change: The Los Angeles Police Department Five Years After the Christopher Commission.  

Lita has appeared on several television and radio shows, as well as, in newspaper and magazine articles on issues relating to: recruitment for the LAPD, females in law enforcement, as well as, sexism, racism, and discrimination on the LAPD.

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