A Message For the Community

Santa Barbara Police Department Interim Police Chief, Bernard Melekian retired Friday.

Chief Melekian has served in that role since March 1, 2021. Prior to that, Chief Melekian served as the Undersheriff for Santa Barbara County (2015-2018). He then served as the County Executive Officer over Public Safety (until 2021) when he assumed the interim Chief of Police role. Chief Melekian has 40 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as Police Chief for the city of Pasadena (13 years), and Santa Monica Police Department (23 years). Chief Melekian was selected as the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) by Attorney General Eric Holder (2009-2013); and is nationally recognized for achieving collaborative change in the culture of law enforcement organizations. His doctoral work focused on Values-Based Discipline in Law Enforcement Organizations. The Resource and community wish you fun times in your retirement, and thank you for being an important role model with your community policing policies for our future generations.

Watch below to view a message he left for you, our community.