In June of 2025, Joyce LaPointe was named the Interim Police Chief of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Prior to this appointment, LaPointe was named to the position of deputy chief, the first to hold that role in Department history, in April of 2023. Her strong work ethic and leadership also led to promotions as the first female lieutenant, captain, and finally deputy chief of the department. 

She began her career at Costa Mesa Police Department in 1997 as a police officer. She held many positions, including patrol officer, FTO, defensive tactics instructor, tactical flight officer, a traffic investigator and more. She promoted to sergeant in 2007, and held various supervisory roles including patrol sergeant, jail sergeant, FTO sergeant, force tactics team supervisor, and emergency management coordinator. 

 LaPointe was the recipient of the Mothers against Drunk Drivers Century Award, and a Life Saving Merit award when she performed CPR at a traffic stop. She also helped with a child birth in the field. In 2024, 73^rd District Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris presented her with the Woman of the Year award.

Throughout her long and distinguished career in policing, she has completed several advanced law enforcement training courses including the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, Force Science Institute Certificate Course, the Executive Development Courses for both California POST and the California Police Chiefs Association. 

Prior to joining the Costa Mesa Police Department, she worked at Costa Mesa High School as an Athletic Trainer and Campus Security officer.

A native of Mountain View California, LaPointe graduated from Southbay Christian High School in 1986 and then attended Vanguard University on an Athletic Scholarship, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Kinesiology.