Josef Levy is a retired Police Commander from the Long Beach Police Department, where he served with distinction for 28 years. Throughout his career, he held a variety of leadership roles in patrol, gangs, internal affairs, hostage negotiations, media relations, and ultimately commanded a patrol division. Josef was instrumental in transforming the department’s culture, building stronger police-community partnerships, and fostering greater inclusivity within some of Long Beach’s most challenged neighborhoods.
A nationally recognized trainer and speaker, Josef has designed and delivered impactful programs on leadership, ethics, diversity, and community engagement. He served as the department’s cultural diversity instructor and is an adjunct staff member at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance. Josef has trained thousands of law enforcement and education professionals across California, throughout the United States, and internationally—working with delegations from countries including France, Germany, Israel, Algeria, and Russia.
In 2007, Josef was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This personal journey led him to co-found and serve as President of the National Law Enforcement Cancer Support Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting officers and their families facing cancer. As a survivor, he speaks openly about resilience, the importance of perspective, and living life with purpose.
In 2011, Josef and his wife, Lysa Gamboa-Levy, co-founded Embassy Consulting Services with a mission to help create safe, respectful, and inclusive communities and workplaces. Inspired by Lysa’s grandfather—a former Ambassador and Vice Chair of the United Nations—the name “Embassy” symbolizes bridge-building, peace, and understanding. Josef led the company until its transition to new ownership in 2024 and remains an active facilitator. Embassy thanks Josef for his continued support and invaluable contributions to our mission, which remains rooted in the values he helped establish. As the organization continues to grow nationally, Josef’s legacy continues to shape its impact across public safety agencies, schools, and organizations throughout the country.