Former Beverly Hills Fire Deputy Chief Alfred Poirier Arrested on Stalking, Vandalism Suspicion

Alfred Poirier, the former deputy chief of the Beverly Hills Fire Department, was arrested Monday evening on suspicion of stalking and vandalism after an investigation into defacements at city-owned properties. Police said computer-generated images were covertly posted at multiple municipal sites but have not disclosed their content or identified the target of the stalking allegations.

Poirier, 63, was booked into jail shortly before 8 p.m. and released just after midnight after posting $150,000 bail. The case has been referred to local prosecutors, but formal charges have not been filed. His first appearance in a Los Angeles County courtroom is scheduled for November 22.

Beverly Hills Police Captain Kevin Orth declined to say whether the stalking allegations involve current city staff, municipal leaders or members of the fire department, citing the active and ongoing investigation. Attempts to reach Poirier for comment after his release were unsuccessful.

The $150,000 bail amount indicates authorities are treating the twin allegations of stalking and vandalism as high-gravity offenses. Under California Penal Code Section 646.9, stalking is a “wobbler” offense that can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony, carrying a maximum state prison sentence of up to five years depending on prior criminal history or the presence of a credible threat of violence. Vandalism under Penal Code Section 594 is elevated to a felony if the cost of physical damage or cleanup exceeds $400.

In California, prosecutors typically take additional time to review evidence and formalize charges when an accused person is released on bail before arraignment. Poirier had retired in April, ending a 19-month tenure as Beverly Hills’ second-in-command for emergency operations. During that period, he oversaw emergency response operations, safety and training protocols, and technological systems integration. City records show his pay and benefits from Beverly Hills totaled nearly $400,000 for 2024, despite his early retirement.

Poirier was recruited to the department in September 2022 by then-Fire Chief Greg Barton, who called him “one of the most respected leaders in our industry.” He was selected from a nationwide pool of applicants.

Before joining Beverly Hills, Poirier spent 36 years with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), one of the largest municipal fire agencies in the United States. As the LAFD’s chief deputy of emergency operations, he oversaw daily resource deployment across more than 100 fire stations, commanded a daily force of 1,000 on-duty firefighters and paramedics, and managed multi-million-dollar operational budgets.

Poirier spent nearly four decades in command positions in regional public safety. His first appearance is set for November 22.