Special Operations Bureau

Captain Andrew Bellante 

As the Special Operations Bureau Commander, Captain Bellante is responsible for the Detectives Unit, Special Victims Unit, the Crime Impact Team, the Special Enforcement Unit, the Emergency Response Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, UAV / Drone Program, Forensics Unit, and the Department’s “Type 1” Jail facility. Captain Bellante is also responsible for our various Task Forces, and the Traffic Division, which includes Motors, Accident Investigations, Commercial Enforcement, Parking Enforcement, Animal Services and Parking Enforcement.

Biography

Andrew was born and raised in in the city of Torrance. He has been a member of the Culver City Police Department since 2002. Andrew attended the Rio Hondo Police Academy, where he graduated at the top of his class, earning the prestigious Honor Recruit Award. Upon completing the police academy, Andrew spent four years working patrol, several of which he worked as a Field Training Officer and a Gang Intelligence Officer. Andrew has also worked several assignments in the Investigations Bureau, including being a member of the Department’s Crime Impact Team, working as a Robbery/Homicide Detective, as well as being an Investigator assigned to the LA IMPACT major narcotics task force, responsible for investigating large scale narcotics trafficking and money laundering organizations throughout the Southern California region.

In 2016, Andrew was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he worked as Patrol Supervisor. In 2018, Andrew was reunited with his team at LA IMPACT and assigned to command Group 1. The team was nationally recognized and invited to the White House, where they received the Land Interdiction Case of the Year Award. After two years of supervising Group 1, Andrew returned to the Culver City Police Department, where he was assigned as the Administrative Sergeant, working out of the Office of the Chief of Police.

In 2020, Andrew was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, Andrew has worked as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Police, the Department’s Public Information Officer, and has served as a Patrol Watch Commander. Andrew has also managed the Department's Community Relations Team, the Mental Health and Homeless Evaluation Team, the Canine program, and is a member of the Department’s Peer Support Team. In 2022, Andrew was assigned to the Department’s Professional Standards Unit. In this capacity, he was responsible for conducting internal administrative investigations of alleged employee misconduct, as well as managing and updating the Department policy manual. In November of 2023, Andrew was promoted to the rank of Captain and currently oversees the Special Operations Bureau.

Andrew possesses his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing from the California State University of Long Beach and a Master’s Degree in Law Enforcement Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego. Andrew is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute Class 466, the Senior Management Institute for Police Class 89 and has obtained a Management Certificate from the commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Andrew has received several Department awards during his career, including the Sustained Superiority Award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the 2018 Supervisor of the Year. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys physical fitness, spending time with his family, and attending sporting events.