Why Join
Agent Sharon Kim
Sharon was born and raised in the City of Glendale, attending local schools and graduating from Clark Magnet High School. In 2004, Sharon joined the Glendale Police Department as a Police Cadet and attended Cal State University Northridge. In 2007, Sharon was hired as a Police Officer Recruit and attended the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Academy, class 359. Upon graduation, Sharon was assigned to the patrol division. In 2012, Sharon transferred to the Gang Unit as a Detective. In 2013, Sharon was transferred to the AB109 Task Force, where she worked alongside detectives from other agencies, working to keep an eye on the parole, probation and PRCS population. In 2015, Sharon transferred back to patrol where she is currently assigned as a Field Training Officer, where she trains new officers.
Sharon is also currently a member of the department’s honor guard, a defensive tactics instructor, as well as an EMT. Sharon also was a member of the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team as a Negotiator.
Sharon is grateful to be able to serve the community she was born and raised in. Sharon became a Police Officer to serve her community and help make Glendale the safe city it is today.
Officer. Edgar Zabunyan
Officer Edgar Zabunyan was born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia. Upon Graduation from High School, he moved to the United States at the age of 17. His first steps towards law enforcement began as a California Highway Patrol explorer at West Valley Division.
Simultaneously, Edgar attended Glendale Community College where he also worked as a Police Cadet with the Campus Police. He then continued his education and received his Bachelor’s (2006) and Master’s degrees (2010) in Criminal Justice and Security.
In 2009, Edgar graduated from Los Angeles Police Academy and was employed as a Detention Officer at LAPD Van Nuys Division. In 2012, he graduated from California Highway Patrol Academy and was assigned to West Valley Division. While at CHP, he became proficient in major traffic collisions, DUI arrests and traffic enforcement. Twice, Edgar was nominated with MADD (mother against drunk drivers) awards for his DUI arrests. Edgar also served as one of the “Explorer” youth program advisors for the CHP.
In 2014, Edgar lateralled to the Glendale Police department and was assigned to the Patrol Division. As a patrol officer, Edgar was also an Explorer advisor mentoring many teenagers throughout their journey into careers in law enforcement. In 2016, he transferred to the Community Impact Bureau as a School Resource Officer (SRO) and was assigned to Hoover Herbert High school. He is currently assigned to the Downtown Policing Unit which primarily specializes in retail crimes. He is also a member of recruitment cadre and helps in overall process of attracting, shortlisting and referring suitable candidates to the Professional Standards Bureau for hiring. Edgar has acted on behalf of the Public Information Office to represent the department in numerous television shows, news conferences and community related events. In 2017, Edgar successfully graduated from SWAT school.
Edgar is one of the few trilingual officers at GPD. He is fluent in Armenian and Russian languages.
Becoming a police officer was Edgar’s childhood dream. He serves the Glendale Police Department with great pride and considers the City of Glendale his home.
Officer Albert Nazaryan
Albert Nazaryan, graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Custodial Officer Academy, Class 94. Albert is the newest Custody Officer to be assigned to the Glendale Jail. Along with Albert were 37other recruits that will start working in local jails, including the cities of Burbank, El Monte, Gardena, Long Beach, Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles.
Albert attended this eight-week academy that specializes in custodial operations of the jail and caring of prisoners. The training includes Academics, Law, Physical Training, Defensive Tactics, Live Fire, Proper Communications and Intervention, Custodial Laws and Rules set by the State of California and Federal Law.
Albert’s multi-generational family, his friends, Interim Police Chief Carl Povilaitis, Captain Scott Bickle, Jail Administrator Juan Lopez and some of Albert’s co-workers attended his graduation ceremony.
Albert’s interest in law enforcement began when he was a freshman in high school. At that time, he joined the Glendale Police Department’s Law Enforcement Explorer Program; a program geared to introduce high school aged students to the field of police work.
After high school graduation, Albert moved on to college and became a Glendale Police Cadet. The Cadet Program is a paid, part time, job position that allows young college age individuals to work in different non-hazardous job positions within the police department; exposing them to different aspects of the job. A cadet can be assigned to support positions within the Detective, Patrol, Administrative and Support Services Divisions. This program allows the individual to become familiar with the opportunities within a law enforcement career; hopefully with the Glendale Police Department.
Albert took his next step to full-time employment as a Custody Officer in July, 2017. After six months of experience in the jail, he was sent to the Custodial Officer Academy for the completion of his formal training and certification.
He will now work as a full-time custodial officer at the Glendale City Jail.
Officer Ashraf “Ash” E. Hanna
Officer Hanna is a lateral transfer from the Los Angeles Police Department. He was born in Egypt and moved to the United States with his parents when he was 21 years old. He attended Glendale Community College where he obtained his AS degree in Criminal Justice.
Since Ash was a child, he dreamed of someday becoming a police officer. While attending college, Ash worked a variety of jobs that included a security guard, customer service at Starbucks, and later a business banker. After completing college, Ash continued to pursue his dream and was hired by the Los Angeles Police Department. Ash received many commendations during his six year career as a police officer with the LAPD.
Ash is a proud resident of Glendale and an active member of the Coptic Orthodox Church. In his spare time he enjoys running, fishing, martial arts and regularly donating blood to Children’s Hospital.
DNA Specialist Michelle Metchikian
Michelle is currently a DNA Specialist at the Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory (VRCL) housed within the Glendale Police Department. She was born in Glendale, became a graduate of Crescenta Valley High School, and then went onto Loyola Marymount University to receive her BS in Biology with a minor in Biochemistry. Michelle attended Michigan State University and earned an MS in Forensic Science with a Forensic Biology concentration. Her thesis examined the feasibility of obtaining DNA profiles from fired cartridge casings. During graduate school, Michelle also interned in the Forensic Biology Unit at the Michigan State Police.
Michelle has been with the Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory since 2014. She began her career at VRCL as an intern, was hired as a DNA technician, and promoted to a full-time DNA Specialist in 2015. Michelle has worked on approximately 500 cases including a cold case homicide from 1993.
Outside of work, Michelle is the VP of the Glendale Parks and Open Space Foundation, a youth leader at church, a Glendale Trail Safety Patrol member, and a volunteer ski instructor in Mammoth.
Michelle feels it is a privilege to serve the community with which she is deeply rooted and considers home.