COMMANDER OF OPERATIONS BUREAU - MAJOR ANTHONY CHRISTIANA

Major Anthony Christiana

Major Christiana became a member of the Gretna Police Department after graduating from the Gretna Police Department Training Academy Class #6 in September of 1982. He began his career assigned to the Patrol Division and in 1984 was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division. Major Christiana was a general assignment detective, investigating crimes such as homicide, armed robbery, burglary, and drug law violations. In July of 1987, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant assuming duties as an Assistant Watch Commander for patrol units. Major Christiana was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Section in February 1988, and was instrumental in creating a Narcotics Section within the division.

In 1989, Major Christiana was assigned as the Commander of Criminal investigations and promoted to Lieutenant. He was placed in command of a Patrol Team in June 1992, and later moved to handle special projects in January 1996. These projects included formulation of a new Departmental Regulation book, overseeing the Community Oriented Policing program implemented throughout the Department and Grant Management. In 1997, Major Christiana assumed duties as the Commander of Operations. There he coordinated the installation and implementation of a new 800 MHz radio system for the Gretna Police Department. This system is shared by all law enforcement agencies in Jefferson Parish. He also coordinated the move towards the use of laptop computer technology in all Gretna Police Patrol units. Major Christiana currently oversees the Special Operations Division, Criminal Investigations Division and Special Projects.

Major Christiana is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course, University of Louisville, Kentucky. He has been an instructor in the Gretna Police Academy since 1985, being named Outstanding Instructor four times by various academies. He instructs for various entities that include: the Louisiana Community Policing Institute, Louisiana State University Shreveport; Center for Society Law and Justice, University of New Orleans; and the Executive Protection Institute, Winchester, Virginia. Major Christiana has had the pleasure of serving on a peer review panel that evaluates law enforcement grants for the National Institute of Justice, Washington, D.C.

Major Christiana was selected by the U.S. Justice Department to attend the Drug Enforcement Administrators Drug Unit Commanders Academy at Quantico, Virginia. He has extensive training in all aspects of police investigation, specializing in Drug Investigations.