Darren Arakawa is Deputy Director of Campus Safety and Security Operations. He comes to the L.A. County Probation Department with over 33 years of law enforcement experience with one agency, the South Gate Police Department. Darren had worked in every division of the South Gate Police Department and ascended through the organization until he was appointed as the department’s 16th Police Chief in July of 2021. Darren held the office of Chief of Police until he retired in October of 2025.

Mr. Arakawa also served as the 2024 President of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs’ Association which serves the safety and interest of the 45 municipal law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County.

Darren is a graduate of POST Supervisory Leadership Institute and Command College, FBI LEEDA Executive Leadership Institute, and the DEA Drug Unit Commander’s Academy. He holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach.