"I am pleased to appoint Deputy Chief Batts to the position of Chief of Police...He is a proven leader and manager within the Long Beach community," said Acting City Manager Gerald Miller in a written release.

Chief Batts rose to the rank of Commander in 1991, becoming the youngest officer ever promoted to that rank in LBPD's history. He was promoted to Deputy Chief in March, 1999, again becoming the youngest officer promoted to that rank and has received awards for heroism from the LBPD.

A biography released by City Hall notes Chief Batts began his career in 1974 as an LAPD Explorer Scout, and was thereafter employed by Santa Monica as a police student cadet and later became a reserve officer in Hawthorne.

In 1982, after eight months as a Community Relations assistant with the LBPD, he was accepted into the LBPD Police Academy as a recruit.

Chief Batts earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Law Enforcement Administration, a Master's Degree in Business Management and a Doctorate in Public Administration. He is also a graduate of the following executive programs: International Association of Chiefs of Police's Special Weapons and Tactics Commander School; Executive Training Course at Peace Officer Standards and Training; USC's Delinquency Control Institute; FBI National Academy; Leadership Long Beach; Command College, and Harvard University's Executive Development Course.

Chief Batts says his greatest success in life is "being the father of my three wonderful children: Gia, Desmond and Dominic."