Daniel Roberts
LAPD News:
Los Alamos Police Sgt. Daniel Roberts has been selected to fill the position of commander following the vacancy created with the recent promotion of former Cmdr. Oliver Morris to deputy police chief.
“The continued changes in senior leadership at the police department offer opportunities to advance our service delivery to the community while enhancing our internal processes,” Chief Sgambellone said. “We look forward to Cmdr. Roberts’ new role and his contributions to help sustain Los Alamos as one of the safest communities in the nation.”
Roberts began his career with Los Alamos Police Department in 2010. During this time, Roberts has been on Patrol, a Detective, and was the Professional Standards Sergeant for the last 8 years. While Roberts was the Professional Standards Sergeant, he was able to get LAPD their very first CALEA Accreditation.
Under Roberts, LAPD has passed each of the last five inspections with 100 percent compliance. Within his role, Roberts has brought new training and improvements to the police department.
Roberts started the first Hostage Negotiations team in 2014 by becoming an international certified negotiator. He also helped start the active shooter training with Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2015 and implemented the first fitness program for the employees of the police department.
Roberts holds a Basic, Advanced, and First Line Supervisor Police Officer certification from the Department of Public Safety. In 2018 he graduated from the Northwestern Police Staff and Command College.
Roberts also brings his experience as a major in the military to the police department. Roberts’ military background is a mixture of active-duty Army and the National Guard. He enlisted in 2003 in the U.S. Army as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter mechanic. Roberts has served 19 years in the military and has been involved in many large events and numerous State Emergency situations.
He was in charge of the Española area of Operation Deep Freeze, which returned natural gas to Northern New Mexico during extreme cold. He also was the liaison during the Dog Head and Track fires and served as the medical director of Vigilant Guard.
Roberts graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. He later received a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the American Military University in 2014, and a second Master in Public Administration Management in 2021. Roberts is married to Osiris Kimberly Cruz, from Guaymas, Mexico.
Roberts will be sworn in as commander at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 3 by the Honorable Judge Pat Casados.