Charlie Beck

Early life and education Beck is a native of Long Beach, California. He attended Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California, and then the California State University, Long Beach where he received a B.A. in occupational studies-vocational arts. Beck worked in the Department's Internal Affairs division as a sergeant and a lieutenant. Beck and California Attorney General Kamala Harris celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. During the 2013 manhunt of Christopher Dorner, eight Los Angeles police officers fired 103 rounds at two innocent women who were delivering newspapers; one woman, a 71-year-old, was shot twice in the back, and the other woman was injured by broken glass. Even though a commission found that the eight officers violated department policy, none were suspended or fired; Beck chose to allow the shooting officers to return to duty after undergoing additional training. In a settlement, the two women shot by police received $4.2 million from the City of Los Angeles; Beck described the shooting "a tragic misinterpretation" by police working under "incredible tension."

On April 17, 2015, California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced a statewide program of anti-bias training for law enforcement officers. Beck said removing built-in bias among officers "is not something you get inoculated against once in your life and that’s it. This takes constant retraining, constant discussion." Beck and Harris had established a close working relationship. LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein stated that "Beck assigned a security detail for US Senator Kamala Harris shortly before she was sworn into office in 2017, based on a threat assessment he believed to be credible."

On January 19, 2018, Beck announced his retirement later that year. On June 4 of that year, Mayor Garcetti announced that Michel Moore would succeed him on June 27.

On November 8, 2019, Chicago's mayor, Lori Lightfoot appointed Beck as the city's interim superintendent, to commence upon the retirement of incumbent Eddie Johnson. Lightfoot praised Beck and said he "stood firmly on the side of immigrant rights in the face of opposition related to Los Angeles' status as a Sanctuary City, and its choices related to non-cooperation with federal immigration officials." Chicago will conduct a nationwide search for the permanent Superintendent. Beck declined a permanent position, and agreed to hold the Office for a few months.

In 2016, Beck made a cameo appearance on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when he ran into Erika Jayne and her husband Thomas Girardi while having lunch.

In 2018, Beck appeared in a cameo role as Police Chief in the music video When the Seasons Change by Five Finger Death Punch.