Published on September 17, 2026
The City of Santa Cruz announces the retirement of Police Chief Bernie Escalante following over 30 years of service with the Santa Cruz Police Department and a career dedicated to serving the community he has called home throughout his life.
A Santa Cruz native and Santa Cruz High School graduate, Escalante began his career with SCPD as a community service officer in 1996. Over the next three decades, he served in numerous roles throughout the department, including patrol officer, sergeant, detective, tactical team leader and lieutenant before being appointed Deputy Chief in 2020.
Escalante earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from San Francisco State University and a master’s degree in law enforcement and public safety leadership from the University of San Diego. He also completed the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Law Enforcement Command College.
Escalante stepped into the role of Acting Police Chief in October 2021 and was appointed Chief of Police by City Manager Matt Huffaker in April 2022.
“Chief Escalante’s career is an incredible example of what it means to dedicate yourself to public service and to the community you call home,” said City Manager Matt Huffaker. “For over 30 years, Bernie has served Santa Cruz with integrity, compassion and a deep commitment to the people of this community. His leadership has made a lasting impact on the Police Department and our entire organization, and we are incredibly grateful for his decades of service.”
Throughout his career, Escalante has emphasized community relationships, public safety and service while leading the department through the evolving needs and challenges of policing in Santa Cruz. As Chief, he has led a department focused on public safety through exemplary service, with priorities including recruitment and retention, downtown and traffic safety, mental health response and quality-of-life issues.
For Escalante, the opportunity to lead his hometown police department has been deeply personal.
“Serving my hometown and having the opportunity to lead the men and women of the Santa Cruz Police Department has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Chief Bernie Escalante. “Public safety is challenging work, and our department has persevered through significant challenges and periods of difficult staffing while continuing to provide an exceptional level of service to this community. I’m especially proud of the work we’ve done to support the health and wellness of our employees, because taking care of the people who serve our community ultimately allows us to better care for the people who live here. I’m incredibly grateful to the SCPD team for their dedication and resilience, and to the Santa Cruz community for the trust and support they have shown me and our department throughout my career.”
Chief Escalante’s retirement will begin on October 30, 2026. The City Manager will be working with Chief Escalante and his Command Staff on a transition plan in the coming weeks.
The City of Santa Cruz thanks Chief Escalante for three decades of dedicated public service and his lasting contributions to the Santa Cruz community.