Quick Take
Jose Garcia will become Santa Cruz’s interim police chief on Oct. 31, succeeding retiring Chief Bernie Escalante. Garcia has served as the department’s deputy chief since 2020.
Jose Garcia will become Santa Cruz’s new interim police chief effective Oct. 31. He will succeed retiring Police Chief Bernie Escalante, who served the department for more than 30 years.
Garcia has worked with the Santa Cruz Police Department for over 25 years. In 1996, he joined the police force as a volunteer, before moving into roles as a police community service aide and community service officer. In 2001, he was sworn in as a police officer.
As an officer, some of Garcia’s specialized assignments included assisting the canine unit, hostage negotiation efforts and serving in the professional standards unit. He also co-coordinated the Citizens Police Academy, teaching sessions in both English and Spanish.
Garcia was promoted to sergeant in 2012 and became a lieutenant in 2016. Throughout his lieutenancy, he commanded the Neighborhood Policing Team, oversaw the Emergency Services Unit and coordinated responses to critical incidents and high-risk operations.
In 2020, Garcia became deputy chief, overseeing crime reduction strategies, staffing and training. He worked with government and community organizations to integrate mental health professionals into calls for service and divert mental health crisis calls, according to a news release announcing his appointment
City Manager Matt Huffaker said that he is “grateful to Jose for stepping into this role and continuing to lead the department forward.”
“It is an honor to step into this role and continue serving the community and department that have been such an important part of my life and career,” Garcia said. “I look forward to building on the strong work already underway while continuing to support our employees and provide the highest level of service to our community.”
While the city determines next steps regarding the permanent police chief position, the community will have an opportunity to provide input through meet-and-greets and listening sessions in the upcoming months, with additional details to be announced soon, the city said in a news release.
Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.
