Santa Monica Swears In Derek Jacob as Police Chief; He Outlines Priorities on Crime, Homelessness and Traffic

Derek Jacob was sworn in as chief of police of Santa Monica at a public ceremony where city leaders and law enforcement partners gathered to mark the transition.

Deputy Chief William Herrick opened the event and introduced Jacob’s decades-long career, noting Jacob’s service with California State University Northridge, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Santa Monica Police Department since 2004. Mayor Carolyn Turosis welcomed the choice as ‘‘a proud moment for Santa Monica’’ and highlighted that Jacob is the first chief selected from inside the department in more than 40 years.

Jacob, who served as interim chief beginning in August 2025, took the oath administered by Deputy City Clerk Esterlina Luga and used his remarks to lay out his immediate priorities: ‘‘crime suppression,’’ a calibrated response to homelessness, traffic safety and community and youth engagement. "Public safety, however, is not the responsibility of law enforcement alone," Jacob said, framing his approach as partnership-based. He added that "homelessness is not a crime," while also saying "disorder and unlawful behavior in our public spaces will not be tolerated," indicating an intention to balance compassion with enforcement.

City Manager Oliver Cheatham and Mayor Turosis praised Jacob’s collaborative style. Cheatham said Jacob ‘‘takes responsibility’’ and has been central to efforts such as forming partnerships with Metro and developing operational tools he described as a ‘‘real time crime center.’’ Turosis pointed to plans to open a new police substation at Santa Monica Place to strengthen downtown presence.

In his remarks Jacob emphasized internal culture and leadership development: he said the department succeeds because of its people and pledged to foster ‘‘a culture of integrity and accountability and inclusion’’ while investing in training and mentorship. He thanked command staff and community engagement teams by name and acknowledged family support.

The ceremony concluded with a benediction and a reception; attendees were invited to take photographs with the new chief. No vote or council action was recorded during the ceremony itself; the oath and celebratory program marked the formal investiture.