Mayor Eric Garcetti will be joined by other city officials Friday at a reception in Exposition Park for the first black woman promoted to the rank of deputy chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Deputy Chief Regina Scott, formerly the department commander of the Office of Information Technology Bureau, has served in various positions in all bureaus of the LAPD.

In her most recent post she headed up “the design, development and ongoing innovation of the department’s automated computer systems,” according to an LAPD news release.

In addition to the mayor, Friday evening’s reception is expected to include LAPD Chief Michel Moore, county officials and members of the Los Angeles Police Commission.

“Regina embodies the spirit of the Los Angeles Police Department with a balance of determination, excellent and heart,” Moore said. “In her new role as deputy chief, she wil undoubtedly continue that quality work with an emphasis on building bridges, creating healthy communities and fighting crime.”

As deputy chief, Scott will be in command of Operations-Central Bureau, which is made up of the Central, Northeast, Rampart, Hollenbeck and Newton stations as well as the Central Traffic Division — a 65-square-mile area with 900,000 residents that the LAPD described as “the most ethnically and culturally diverse in the city.”

Scott, a New Jersey native who joined the U.S. Army after high school, has a daughter currently in the U.S. Air Force and a son who works for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. She also has three grandchildren, is a golfer and enjoys playing blues guitar.

“I am both honored and humbled by this historic promotion,” said Scott. “This promotion is more than just me, it is for those who paved the road before me and those who dare to dream big.”

She went on to thank Moore “for having the courage and insight for real change and reform.”

“I am ready to help build trust and help bridge the gap between the police and communities we serve.”

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