Beginning Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department Van Nuys Division will be under the watch of two new captains, as former captain Paul Snell has been transferred to the Southwest Division of LAPD, which encompasses the University of Southern California and the Coliseum.
Taking over for Snell as Area Captain is Ivan Minsal, the former Valley Traffic Division Captain. Taking over as Patrol Captain is Brian Pratt, former Patrol Captain in the Northeast Division.
“It all happened very fast,” Snell said on Monday. “Basically, they didn’t give a whole lot of rationale for the changes except that the movement of the captain in Foothill, that caused somewhat of a domino effect with all the captains.”
“I just kind of got caught up in the domino effect,” Snell added.
Snell began in his new post today, as well as both Minsal and Pratt.
Minsal has worked in the Valley Traffic Division since the mid-2000’s, where he has been responsible for traffic throughout the entire San Fernando Valley.
“He is a really good replacement,” Snell saidl. “He’s a good guy and a lot of people will already know him.”
Snell served in his post as captain of the Van Nuys Division for 18 months.
“Absolutely I’m going to miss it,” Snell said. “I’m going to miss these people dearly because of the youth programs I was involved in there, the community members I worked with, and even the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association.”
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Snell added. “I hate to go and people have told me they don’t want to see me go, but that just means I was doing something right. Sometimes, that’s just the way it goes.”
