ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA – Commander Michael Martinez has been appointed Acting Chief of Police after the retirement of Chief Beau Pryor on July 9, 2020, and is intended to be appointed as the City’s new Chief of Police following confirmation by the City Council.
Commander Martinez has served in law enforcement for 18 years, joining the Arroyo Grande Police Department from the Grover Beach Police Department in 2005 as a full-time Police Officer. Since then, he has risen in the ranks and has served as a Field Training Officer, Patrol Sergeant and Watch Commander, Traffic Officer, Detective Sergeant, and Commander. As a Commander for over four years, he has been responsible for patrol, detectives, property/evidence, training, administrative services, and a wide variety of other tasks. Currently and for more than the past 10 years, Commander Martinez has been serving as a SWAT Team Leader and an Allan Hancock College Law Enforcement Instructor.
Martinez will serve as Acting Chief of Police until the City Council considers confirming his appointment as Chief of Police at their July 14, 2020 regular meeting. Commander Martinez was selected for appointment as the City’s new Chief of Police following a thorough and in-depth internal hiring process.
“Commander Martinez’s qualifications, proven commitment to public service and the City of Arroyo Grande, and vision for the Department to cultivate and promote community trust with all residents and visitors, make him the ideal candidate to succeed Chief Pryor,” says Acting City Manager Bill Robeson.
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bill Robeson, Acting City Manager
brobeson@arroyogrande.org
Whitney McDonald, Acting Deputy City Manager
wmcdonald@arroyogrande.org