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La Palma honors Police Chief Joe Guerrero as he prepares to retire after 29 years
Summary
The council proclaimed Chief Joe Guerrero's retirement, presented tributes from local and state representatives, and introduced two new police chaplains and new city staff; Guerrero's retirement date was noted as Oct. 25, 2025.
The City Council of the City of La Palma on Oct. 7 honored Chief Joe Guerrero with a proclamation recognizing nearly 29 years of public service. The proclamation recounted his career start on April 23, 1996, roles across policing and code enforcement, awards received and the influence he had on the department. Chief Guerrero thanked the council and community and reflected on his career as he prepares to retire on Oct. 25, 2025.
Representatives from the offices of Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, State Senator Tony Strickland and Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen (district representative present) offered congratulatory remarks. The council presented a city tile in recognition of Guerrero’s service.
The chief also introduced two newly appointed police chaplains, Pastor Matthew Agosto of City Church (Buena Park) and Pastor Steve (last name transcribed as Blyan) of a local Christian center; the chief described their roles in crisis response, counseling and officer support and said the city had not had chaplains since the early 2000s. The council and guests also welcomed two new city employees: Laura Castillo, engineering technician in Public Works, and Alicia Farnell, assistant to the city manager.
Why it matters: the recognition marks the transition of a long-serving department leader and signals new support resources for officers and community outreach through chaplains and incoming staff.
Next steps: the city will complete scheduled retirement honors through October and onboard the new staff and chaplains into regular departmental duties.
