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Canyon Lake names Riverside County captain its first police chief
Summary
City Manager Aaron Brown introduced James “Jim” Rails as Canyon Lake’s first police chief, saying Rails will build the new department and help recruit experienced officers; council members offered public praise but no formal council vote was recorded at the meeting.
Canyon Lake — City Manager Aaron Brown on Tuesday introduced James “Jim” Rails as the city’s first police chief after Rails’ nearly 30-year career with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. “The choice of police chief will probably be one of the most important decisions of my career,” Brown said, adding that he sought a leader who could “build a police department but also build a legacy.”
Why it matters: The announcement formalizes a step in Canyon Lake’s long-running move toward local control of policing. The council and city manager said a locally controlled department will allow the city to set recruiting priorities, expand volunteer and reserve programs and shape day-to-day policing to the community’s expectations.
Brown told the council he had discussed retirement timelines with Rails and that Rails’…
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