As a youngster in Houston, Rachel Johnson wanted to experience two things that enticed her on television: policing and the Southern California lifestyle. Both goals became a reality. Johnson now serves as chief of the Manhattan Beach Police Department, a role she undertook three years ago.
“Police officer is the only job I’ve ever wanted,” she says. “What gets me out of bed in the morning is giving good service to the community and determining how to do things the way the public expects while creating a place where people have fun and enjoy coming to work.”
She’s proud of the reductions in crime during her tenure—noting that auto thefts, which were at historically high rates when she started, have been reduced by half. A smash-and-grab robbery at a fine jewelry store in 2023 resulted in the arrest and conviction of five perpetrators. Staffing for parking and animal control personnel has also increased.
Johnson joined the Marine Corps after high school and served in San Diego and Okinawa, Japan. She has worked as a deputy sheriff at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and as a sergeant and lieutenant at the Newport Beach Police Department. When she started as a new captain with the Laguna Beach Police Department, Johnson was designated as the COVID-19 expert and helped get the city through the worst of the pandemic.
She became chief of the Manhattan Beach Police Department in August 2022, the first woman of color and second female to hold the position. While Johnson doesn’t dwell on her status, she knows it inspires others. “I’ve had strangers tell me they’re proud of me and grateful to see me as a chief because it lets them and their family know what’s possible,” she says.
The mother of three teenagers, she jokes that life at home can seem more fraught than at work. “It’s hand-to-hand combat. I go to the office to relax.”
Johnson has spent her career in male-dominated professions. “The things they say about having to try twice as hard are still true, and that’s true for women generally,” she says. “What’s helped me to be successful is realizing I can’t do it their way, but I can do it my way.”
Her way involves a willingness to have conversations, consider other perspectives, ask questions and provide insights. For example, she might say, “This is how I see this. Do you see it differently?” Or she might remind the person ordering new police cars to specify movable brake and gas pedals because officers vary in height.
Risk is part of the job. Johnson has experienced three officer-involved shootings and has undergone surgeries as a result of incidents that occurred on duty. In May, she participated for the second year in a row in a 250-mile, three-day bike ride in honor of Officer Chad Swanson, who was hit and killed in October 2023. The event raises funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation.
Johnson’s motto is “Mission first, people always.” Her greatest satisfaction comes from helping her team members succeed. Her best piece of advice is “Be curious. Don’t take things at face value. Ask questions and seek to understand before you respond or try to solve the problem.”
