Chief of Police Luke Hellinga was born and raised in the South Bay and has been with the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department since 2001, when he started as a part-time Police Intern. Soon thereafter, he started working for PVEPD full time as a service officer.

In 2005, Luke graduated towards the top of his class at the prestigious Orange County Sheriff’s Academy. Since then he has worked his way up through the ranks and has worked many assignments which include Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Detective, Corporal, Sergeant, Patrol Watch Commander and Detective Sergeant. In 2009, Captain Hellinga earned the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award for making 100 DUI arrests in one year. In 2019, Captain Hellinga, along with Detectives Shea and Crisfield, received the Centurion Award for “Excellence in Criminal Investigations” from the Peace officers Association of Los Angeles County for their work in solving a series of violent armed home invasion robberies.

Luke’s leadership, experience, and deep understanding of the community will serve the department and the community well as a Police Captain.

Captain Steve Barber is a native of Rancho Palos Verdes. Steve graduated from Miraleste High School in 1988, then attended the University of California Irvine and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science. In 1994, Steve began his career with the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department as a Service Officer. In 1995, he graduated from the Long Beach Police Academy and became a sworn Police Officer with the Department. Steve has held many positions within the Police Department, including Field Training Officer, Patrol Sergeant, and Detective Sergeant.  Steve also participated in an Asset Forfeiture Task Force with the United States Customs Service. In 2021, Steve was promoted to Captain and is currently assigned to the support division.