City of Murrieta, CA

05/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/08/2024 22:35

City of Murrieta Police Chief Announces Retirement

Murrieta, CA - Murrieta Police Chief Anthony Conrad has announced his retirement, ending his 30-year notable law enforcement career. He will retire on December 30, 2024. It's a bittersweet change for Chief Conrad who has served the Murrieta community since 2003 and was sworn in as Police Chief in December 2020.

Chief Conrad started his law enforcement career with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) in February of 1995. During his time at SDPD he worked in both East San Diego and Clairemont serving as a Field Training Officer and Primary Response Team member on their SWAT team.

As a resident of Southwest Riverside County Chief Conrad knew at some point, he wanted to work closer to home. In early 2003 his wife brought home a job announcement for a lateral police officer position at the Murrieta Police Department. In November of 2003, Conrad was hired as the 44th officer at Murrieta PD.

Over the last 21 years, Conrad has worked a number of assignments including Patrol, Investigations, SWAT, Communications, Administration and Operations Captain. In 2011, Conrad helped lead the effort to start the department's first social media program, known today as producing some of the best social media content by any public safety agency. In August of 2022, Conrad oversaw the 30-year Murrieta PD birthday celebration where he reflected on the department's strong culture of community policing and law and order. Under Chief Conrad's leadership, the department successfully navigated through the pandemic and at the same time adopted cutting edge technology to better police the city and connect with residents. Technology that included automated license plate reader cameras, body worn cameras, unmanned aerial drones, Carbyne live video, 5G handheld radios and Live 911.

"Chief Conrad has built a well-respected, community-focused, and forward-thinking department that utilizes new technology and resources to remain trustworthy to residents," said City Manager Kim Summers "I am sad to see Chief Conrad leave, but I thank him for his years of service and ensuring Murrieta remains one of the safest cities in the nation. I wish him the best."

Additionally, Chief Conrad led the department through a partnership with the Menifee Police Department to dispatch for their city. The Murrieta Police and Fire Communications Center now dispatches all calls for service for the Menifee Police Department, Murrieta Police Department, and Murrieta Fire & Rescue. Conrad has seen the city grow very rapidly over the last four years and has used his department's resources wisely. Most recently he spoke about the department's exceptional crime safety ranking at the annual State of the City address, crediting not only the technology being

used by the department to fight crime but also his exceptional officers, dispatchers and professional staff.

Chief Conrad certainly has left a mark on the agency and the city. Since December of 2020, Conrad has hired almost 90 new police employees and promoted 35 officers and staff. Today, Murrieta PD employs 114 officers and 71 professional staff members, to include 32 police and fire dispatchers. Conrad is the 7th Murrieta Police Chief in the department's 32-year history.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from San Diego State University and a Master's Degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Azusa Pacific University. Conrad is also a graduate of the PERF Senior Police Management Course at Boston University. He is married to his wife Dana, a 28-year educator and a recent retiree from the Murrieta Valley School District. Chief Conrad's son AJ is a Murrieta Valley Nighthawk alumnus and will graduate with his MBA from Willamette University in the spring. Chief Conrad and his family plan on remaining members of this community and feel blessed to have lived and worked in Murrieta.

Summers will appoint a new Police Chief from within the Captain ranks of the police department's leadership team. Chief Conrad will work closely with the newly selected Police Chief until his retirement date. That announcement is expected to be made in the near future.

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