Police Department Announces Promotions

Two officers in the have been promoted to sergeants, according to a news release sent Monday from the department.

Sgt. Jeff Mendence, who was previously an investigator and acting sergeant of the traffic unit, began his career with the RBPD in 1995, where he worked as a community services and municipal services officer. He was hired as a police officer four years later.

Mendence is a former member of the crime scene investigations team.

Born and raised in the South Bay, Mendence attended El Camino College.

After eight years as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Sgt. Paul Ribitzki joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1995, and he was hired by the RBPD in 2001. He is a former member of the special weapons and tactics team and a current member of the firearms training unit.

He holds a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in criminal justice from California State University Long Beach.

Once Mendence and Ribitzki have completed a training program, they will be assigned as patrol division supervisors.