Quick Take
Bernie Escalante, who has served as Santa Cruz's police chief since October 2021, is retiring at the end of October following 30 years of service.
Chief Bernie Escalante is retiring from the Santa Cruz Police Department after more than 30 years of service with the organization, the city announced on Thursday morning.
Escalante assumed the role of acting police chief in October 2021 following the departure of former police chief Andy Mills earlier that year. Escalante was officially appointed as the new police chief in April 2022.
Escalante started as a community service officer with SCPD in 1996, and has since served in a number of roles, including patrol officer, sergeant, detective, tactical team leader and lieutenant. He became the department’s deputy chief in 2020 prior to his move into the police chief role.
Escalante, who grew up in Santa Cruz County, called serving his hometown and leading the department “one of the greatest honors of my life” in a news release.
“Public safety is challenging work, and our department has persevered through significant challenges and periods of difficult staffing while continuing to provide an exceptional level of service to this community,” he said in the release. “I’m especially proud of the work we’ve done to support the health and wellness of our employees, because taking care of the people who serve our community ultimately allows us to better care for the people who live here. I’m incredibly grateful to the SCPD team for their dedication and resilience, and to the Santa Cruz community for the trust and support they have shown me and our department throughout my career.”
City Manager Matt Huffaker cited Escalante’s dedication to his hometown.
“For over 30 years, Bernie has served Santa Cruz with integrity, compassion and a deep commitment to the people of this community. His leadership has made a lasting impact on the Police Department and our entire organization, and we are incredibly grateful for his decades of service,” he said in the release.
Escalante’s retirement will begin on Oct. 30, and Huffaker’s office will work with the department on filling the vacancy.
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.
