Chief 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 after, he started working for PVEPD full-time as a service officer. 

In 2005, Luke graduated towards the top of his class at the Orange County Sheriff’s Academy. Since then, he has worked his way up through the ranks and has held many assignments, including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Detective, Corporal, Sergeant, Patrol Watch Commander, and Detective Sergeant. In 2018, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Operations Division. Following the retirement of Chief Tony Best in 2022, he served as acting Chief until his official appointment in 2024.

In 2009, he earned the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award for making 100 DUI arrests in one year. In 2019, Luke and 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.