Riverside County Gets New Chief For Investigation Bureau

Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach announced that Michael Moriarty will head the district attorney’s Bureau of Investigation today.

Moriarty will begin his new duties in mid-January, when he will oversee some 177 people on the bureau staff, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

“Mike comes here with more than 30 years experience with the Los Angeles Police Department and his law enforcement background is very diverse,” said District Attorney Paul Zellerbach.

“He has done it all in his career, both as an officer and as a supervisor. His wealth of skills and experience will be of great benefit to this office and the community.”

Moriarty, who has lived in the Inland Empire for 28 years with his wife and three children, served a variety of positions within the Los Angeles Police Department.

According to the district attorney’s office, the law enforcement veteran began working for the department in 1981.

Most recently, Moriarty oversaw 6 specialized detective commands within the detective bureau at the Los Angeles Police Department, where he worked as a bureau commander for more than 2 years.

He also served as a captain and commanding officer for the Los Angeles Police Department administrative investigation division and professional standards bureau.

“The Bureau of Investigation at the Riverside County DA’s Office has always been held in high regard within the law enforcement community,” Moriarty said.

“I look forward to bringing my efforts to maintain and enhance that high standard throughout law enforcement, as well as to the residents of Riverside County.”

Moriarty graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor of arts degree in criminology.

He’s also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County, the California Narcotics Officers Association and the California Gang Investigators Association.

Moriarty takes over the position currently held by Clay Hodson, who retired from the job in 2007, but returned as interim chief when Zellerbach took office in January 2011.

The county generally pays the position between $130,00 and $170,000 a year for the job.