The moves are part of a shake-up of command staff amid a federal investigation into allegations of excessive force and mounting civil rights and discrimination lawsuits brought by current and former officers.
LaChasse is in the process of reorganization and plans to mix and match duties to make the best use of personnel. Capt. Pat Lynch, a 30-year veteran who last led the patrol division, announced plans to retire, officials said.
Albanese is an expert on police tactics who “knows how to lead, command,” LaChasse said.
He brings to Burbank 26 years of Crisis Negotiation Team and SWAT experience. He’s regarded as an authority on hostage situations.
He graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with a degree in public administration and earned his master’s from USC.
Albanese is expected to help break down a front-loaded system in which the senior-most officers often schedule weekday and daytime shifts by supervising shifts on nights and weekends, LaChasse said.
The chief received a unanimous endorsement last month from the City Council to recruit outside police captains, lieutenants and sergeants, after assuring that officers from inside the department would still have a competitive edge to move up the ranks.
Albanese told the Police Commission that he looks forward to overseeing beefed-up training efforts, and that he has a “tremendous amount of passion” for the job.
Burbank Police Commission Chairman Bob Frutos, who as an LAPD officer worked under Albanese, described him as a persistent motivator when it came to training.
“I got up to speed real quick,” he said.
LaChasse, who took over the Police Department in January, last held the rank of LAPD deputy chief, commanding nearly 1,600 personnel in south Los Angeles. The recent hires help solidify a strong combination of commanders with Burbank, Los Angeles and county sheriff experience, Frutos said.
