Captain Bill Moulder said he plans to work closely with the city to address crime and quality of life issues affecting the community. (photo courtesy of City of West Hollywood)
Captain Bill Moulder was named head of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station following a selection process that began in April when former station captain Edward Ramirez was promoted to commanding officer.
Moulder is a 31-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who spent years working in West Hollywood. From 2002 to 2006 he served at the station as a deputy and detective, and since 2018 he has served in West Hollywood as a lieutenant. Other assignments included stints at sheriff’s stations in Palmdale, Lancaster, and Santa Clarita, as well as the Sheriff’s Department Legislative Unit and Medical Services and Risk Management offices. Moulder had served as acting captain of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station since Ramirez’s promotion in April.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to serve the city of West Hollywood,” said Mr. Moulder. “It’s a wonderful community that I love very much. What makes West Hollywood special, in terms of being a sheriff, are the wonderful deputies we have here. I look forward to working with city staff and our city council to make this a better and safer place.
West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister said she was thrilled that Moulder had been selected for the new assignment. The selection process involved eligible members of the department applying for the position, being interviewed and vetted by city council and city staff. Sheriff Alex Villanueva makes the final decision on promotions and assignments.
“I want to congratulate Bill Moulder on his appointment to lead the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station as the new captain,” Meister said. “For nearly four years, he has ably served our community as a station lieutenant and his promotion to captain is great news. Public safety is our number one concern in West Hollywood and Captain Moulder is a veteran law enforcement officer highly respected by our community. He knows West Hollywood and its unique challenges, and I look forward to continuing our work with him in his new leadership role at the station.
Over the past two years, concerns about the approach of law enforcement in West Hollywood have surfaced. The city has hired more unarmed private security ambassadors and is considering whether less funding should go to its contract with the sheriff’s department. Moulder said there are about 60 deputies currently assigned to the station, not including detectives and administrative staff, and they provide a valuable service in protecting West Hollywood residents and visitors.
“In terms of law enforcement, I think having more sheriff deputies on the streets is a deterrent to crime and provides a safe environment for our community,” he added.
Moulder said he plans to continue his efforts to prevent property offenses and assault, which are the most common crimes in the city.
“Because the things that drive our numbers are theft type crimes, that has been and will continue to be our biggest focus. Especially the crimes that happen in our nightlife establishments, like pickpocketing, that happen inside the establishments and outside on the streets,” Moulder said. “Street thefts will also be a focus. Violent crime is always a concern and we will work to address it.
Moulder said statistics show nearly a third of street robberies involve homeless people, so he plans to increase outreach, working with the city, to address the issue.
“It’s important to raise awareness, and I think we can really make a difference in crime prevention,” he said. “I had a lot of contact with the community, our town itself and the city council, and developed a great working relationship. I intend to continue this work. It is an honor to serve in this capacity. »
