Minh Dinh is the latest Captain to be promoted under Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s new Captain promotional process. Captain Dinh, a 33-year veteran of the Department, has been selected to take the helm of the Cerritos Station.
Captain Dinh graduated from Academy class 239 and spent his first 12 years on the Department as a deputy at Men’s Central Jail (MCJ), Temple Station (TEM), Personnel bureau and Operation Safe Streets before promoting to Detective at COPS Bureau, working on the Asian Crimes Taskforce.
Captain Dinh returned to TEM as a sergeant for five years before promoting to lieutenant and transferring back to MCJ as the Watch Commander. He also served as a lieutenant at Lakewood Station and Professional Standards Division.
Captain Dinh has an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Human Resources, and a jurist doctorate from Northwestern California University School of Law. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has completed multiple Department leadership courses.
Captain Dinh has participated in televised Public Safety Announcements promoting child car seat safety, and has appeared on Vietnamese speaking channels to promote general safety awareness. He was also part of the Department’s security detail for President George W. Bush’s inaugural parade in 2005.
At the age of 14, Captain Dinh came to the United States by himself after spending a year in a Malaysian refugee camp. He supported himself after graduating high school and decided to join the Department in 1987. He has been married to retired LASD Lieutenant, Jenny Ha, for 29 years and their adult daughter, Claire, a Fulbright alum, is currently attending Harvard Medical School. In his free time, Captain Dinh enjoys swimming, reading and bicycling.
The city of Cerritos is located in Southeastern Los Angeles County and has a population of approximately 50,000. LASD has provided law enforcement services for the city since 1956 and the station is located adjacent to City Hall. The Department and city government have a strong relationship and are both deeply committed to emphasizing community oriented policing.
