Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna Tests Positive For COVID

LONG BEACH, CA —Longtime Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and is self-isolating at home, the city's police department announced. It likely means, he'll close out his career in Long Beach while self-isolating because he was slated to step down from his post Jan. 1 after 35 years with the department.

Luna announced his retirement along with his intention to run for Los Angeles County Sheriff. The Department used the news of his illness to encourage officers to get vaccinated.

Luna is "in good spirits and is hopeful he will feel better in the coming days," department officials said.

"Chief Luna believes his symptoms could have been much worse if he were not vaccinated," the Long Beach Police Department tweeted Tuesday night.

Luna announced his retirement in September. He began his career at the LBPD as a reserve officer in 1985. He has been part of the LBPD command staff since 2001 and was sworn in as the department's 26th chief in November 2014.

Assistant Chief of Police Wally Hebeish will succeed Luna on Jan. 1, city officials announced last week.

Hebeish, 52, is a 27-year law enforcement veteran who has been with the Long Beach Police Department since 1995, serving as assistant chief since 2019.