Tehachapi police promote Ryan Hals to sergeant; department to join regional crisis response team

Police Chief Standridge introduced a promotion ceremony and promoted Officer Ryan Hals to sergeant at the Tehachapi City Council meeting.

Standridge read Hals's biography to the council: Hals served as a field artillery cannon crewman in the U.S. Marines beginning in February 2007, later graduated from a sheriff's academy and worked for California City as a police officer from 2012 to 2024. Standridge said Hals served as a field training officer and K-9 handler in his prior employment, has investigation experience in complex cases, received a life-saving award and holds an advanced POST certificate. "He's a man of few words. But you know what? We don't need him to talk," Standridge said as he introduced Hals.

Standridge told council the department hired Hals in August 2024 and that the department is filling positions, has two officers graduating from training and two open positions. He said Tehachapi will participate in a crisis response team being developed for the Eastern Kern Law Enforcement Agency to provide a coordinated response to critical incidents.

The promotion was ceremonial and handled during the chief's report; no formal council vote was recorded for the personnel action.

Chief Standridge and others thanked community members for attending the promotion, and council members expressed appreciation for the department's recruitment and training efforts.