I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as the California Reserve Peace Off
By Wanichols · October 8, 2026 · Curated by George's Blog
I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as the California Reserve Peace Officers Association’s Reserve Officer of the Year. CRPOA represents reserve peace officers across California, so recognition by this community means a great deal to me.
Most people who know me professionally know me as an entrepreneur, CEO and investor. But for years, I’ve had another part of my life that looks very different: serving as a Reserve Police Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, working patrol in a black and white, taking whatever radio calls come our way: some mundane, some hair-raising, some incredibly sad.
I’ve spent thousands of hours on patrol and other assignments, working alongside other reserve officers as well as career officers who have taught me an enormous amount about service, judgment, duty and responsibility. Then came January 2025.
When the Palisades Fire swept through my community, those two worlds suddenly collided. I spent seven days working in and around a neighborhood that was also my home for 30 years—alongside fellow LAPD reserve and full-time officers, firefighters and other first responders trying to protect lives and property while much of the community burned around us. In the weeks that followed, I continued working patrol assignments protecting evacuated neighborhoods. It was one of the most consequential experiences of my life.
I’ve spent much of my career thinking about leadership and decision-making—building companies, advising CEOs and investing in technology. Police work teaches some of the same lessons in a radically different environment. You assess what is in front of you, rely on your training and your partners, make a decision, and act.
I’m grateful to CRPOA for this recognition, and to the LAPD officers and fellow reserve officers who have trained and trusted me to work alongside them. Above all, this experience has reinforced something I believe more strongly than ever: There are many ways to serve our communities. This has become one of the most meaningful ways I’ve found to serve mine.