On July 9, the City of Soledad announced the appointment of Patrick Valenzuela as its new chief of police.
Valenzuela was previously a Major Incident Division agent for the Arizona Department of Public Safety for four months. Prior to that, he worked nearly 30 years at the Glendale Police Department in Arizona.
Valenzuela has served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force Reserve and has been deployed in different missions.
In Glendale, he climbed the ladder from patrol officer to lieutenant. Valenzuela oversaw the Foothills Division and supervised various units, including property crimes, school liaison officers and the neighborhood response unit.
Since April, Fred Lombardi has served as Soledad's interim chief after Chief Damon Wasson retired in March.
Valenzuela has a master's degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University.
“His extensive experience, commitment to community safety, and leadership in law enforcement make him the perfect fit for this role. We’re confident that under his leadership, the Soledad Police Department will continue to strengthen its connection with our residents while enhancing public safety and trust,” City Manager Megan Hunter said in a statement.
“Officers, your professionalism and dedication are the backbone of this department. My promise to you is strong leadership and steadfast support as we work to uphold the highest standards of law enforcement,” Valenzuela said. “To our community, my pledge is simple: we will be visible, we will be responsive, and we will work tirelessly alongside you to address our challenges and celebrate our successes. Let's move forward, united in our purpose to make this the safest place to live, work and raise a family."
Valenzuela's swearing-in ceremony is on July 16.