Captain Alex Vargas was born and raised in the city of Los Angeles. He is a 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and is the Commanding Officer of Communications Division. Alex has prior commanding officer experience at Special Operations Division, Central and Olympic Patrol Divisions. Within these assignments, Alex encouraged increased community involvement and engagement, as well as sought ways to improve relationships among the Department, other law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations and the many diverse cultures and socio-economic groups.

As a police officer, he has worked many different assignments, including patrol in Central, Van Nuys, Hollywood, 77th Street, Hollenbeck and Newton Patrol Divisions. Specialized unit assignments in Van Nuys Vice, 77th Street Special Problems Unit, Hollenbeck Gang Enforcement Detail, Newton Community Law Enforcement And Recovery and Southwest Gang Impact Team. He was a geographic detective in Southeast and Southwest Detective Divisions and an investigator in Internal Affairs at Valley and Central Administrative Sections.

Alex graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science with a minor in World Politics. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree from the University of Southern California.

Alex has been a member of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association for the past ten years and has previously held the titles of Sergeant-At-Arms, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President. He is also active in the Training, Special Events and Scholarship Committees. Alex has a passion for mentoring and has been active in California State University, Los Angeles Mentoring Program for the past ten years. He has also mentored hundreds of police officers, detectives, sergeants and lieutenants and successfully guided them through the promotional process. He is an avid runner and hiker and has run in numerous 5 and 10 K’s with his family.