Captain Manuel Arana

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Captain Manuel Arana has had a distinguished and diverse law enforcement career that spans several decades. Starting at the age of 15 as a South Gate Police Explorer, he progressed through various roles and responsibilities, showing a commitment to public service.

In 1997, Captain Arana graduated from the Rio Hondo Police Academy, laying the foundation for his professional journey.  As an officer, he gained experience in different assignments, including the gang unit, SWAT, detective work, and community relations.

In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and supervised the Narcotics and Special Problems Unit, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, and played a role in community engagement by creating the Community Relations Team.

Further advancing in his career, Captain Arana was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2017. In this capacity, he assumed leadership over the Records Bureau, the Detective Bureau, and managed critical units such as the SWAT Team, K9 Program and Range Program. His contributions extended beyond operations, as he also created a Recruitment Team, emphasizing the importance of cultivating talent within the South Gate Police Department.

Captain Arana was promoted in December of 2023 and currently oversees the patrol division indicating his continued commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.  Captain Arana obtained a master’s degree in emergency services administration from California State University, Long Beach.