Behind the Badge
The five lieutenants of the Tustin Police Department started new responsibilities on Aug. 31. This rotating practice allows them to bring their decades of combined experience toward leading various divisions and provide mentorship to the men and women in their ranks.
- ANDY BIROZY
Birozy is the new North Area commander, which means he oversees the department’s coverage area above the 5 Freeway.
As North Area commander, Birozy oversees patrol operations. He also studies crime statistics, ensuring that his personnel are addressing any crimes that are trending and identifying solutions to stop them.
Birozy also works to make sure his officers have the equipment they need.
Birozy has been with the city of Tustin for 30 years, 26 of them as a police officer. He has been a lieutenant for a year.
“I’m enjoying it. It’s a new challenge,” he said of his new position.
- RYAN COE
Coe, a department veteran of 15 years and lieutenant for two, is now the city operations commander, which has him overseeing the traffic unit composed of motor officers, collision investigators and the permit parking program.
Coe is also responsible for the community resources unit, which includes the community engagement team, homeless liaison, community relations unit, special events and emergency management.
His duties also include overseeing the K-9 program, SWAT team, special response team and scheduling for the entire Tustin Police Department.
Coe, whose last position was the special operations division commander, has department experience as a motor sergeant and scheduling supervisor. Regarding his new duties, he said “it feels like a natural fit.”
Tustin Lieutenants Ryan Coe, Luis Garcia, Stephanie Nichols, Andy Birozy, and Duane Havourd.
Photo by Steven Georges / Behind the Badge
- LUIS GARCIA
Garcia is the new South Area commander, putting him in charge of the department’s coverage area south of the 5 freeway.
Like his North Area counterpart, the job means he is responsible for much of the area’s operations.
“We literally have to know everything and be available as much as possible,” Garcia said.
Garcia said he also works on the design and review process for the security needs of new or reconstructed buildings in Tustin.
Garcia noted that the South Area is one of the most densely populated and busiest areas of the city. This area also contains the majority of the city’s Spanish-speaking population, and Garcia said he likes being a bridge between that community and the department.
- DUANE HAVOURD
Havourd is the new special operations division commander, which means he is accountable for investigative matters for the department.
Havourd oversees a variety of specialized units, including criminal investigations, school resource officers, crime analysis, the Special Response Team and OCATT (Orange County Auto Theft Task Force). His duties focus on implementing the community-oriented policing model.
Havourd has been with the department since 1988, when he joined as a reserve officer. He became full time in 1990, and has been a field training officer, narcotics investigator, regional narcotics suppression program investigator, gang unit investigator and the department’s range master.
Havourd was promoted to lieutenant in March 2019 after being a sergeant for about 16 years.
- STEPHANIE NICHOLS
Nichols began her role as the professional standards division commander and last served as the South Area commander.
Her new duties include oversight of administrative investigations, personnel and training, legislation, uniforms and equipment, cadets, reserve officers and police recruits, information technology and the chief’s advisory board.
Nichols also serves as the department’s press information officer.
“As a lieutenant in my profession that is historically made up of men, not only as an officer but as a lieutenant in charge of officers, my responsibility is to make sure this community is safe and to institute community outreach programs,” Nichols said. “As a police department, we can’t solve all the problems, but together with the citizens we can make the community safe.”
Nichols began her career with Tustin as a recruit in 1999. She has worked a variety of assignments, including patrol officer, field training officer and personnel officer.
