After more than six years of service, San Gabriel Police Chief Gene Harris is departing the City of San Gabriel. Chief Harris will be joining the City of Pasadena as their new police chief.

“I’m honored to have served the San Gabriel community and interacted with so many wonderful people here. It has been a great experience in the City of San Gabriel, and it has helped me further develop my skills and understanding in my quest to become an exemplary public servant,” said Chief Harris.

Harris was known for his community- and team-oriented philosophies. During his tenure in San Gabriel, he instilled an integrated approach with a focus on community service and outreach. Under Harris’s leadership, the police department has developed close relationships with various San Gabriel community organizations, such as the Lions Club, San Gabriel Kiwanis Club, La Casa de San Gabriel and Asian Youth Center.

Some of Harris’s major accomplishments include:

•  Focusing on staff development to foster future law enforcement leaders for San Gabriel. Harris empowered San Gabriel police officers to advance their law enforcement knowledge and leadership skills through attending development programs at the FBI National Academy, West Point Leadership Program, P.O.S.T. Command College etc.
• Creating the department’s Community Engagement Bureau to better engage with the community, provide mental health evaluation and serve as a resource at San Gabriel schools. The bureau continues to grow and has become a strong partner in the community.
• Ensuring the San Gabriel Police Department receives first-hand knowledge of the latest and best law enforcement information, legislations and practices, through his involvement as President of Los Angeles County Police Chiefs’ Association and as a member of the California Police Chiefs Association.

“Chief Harris is an important part of the San Gabriel city leadership team. I’m grateful for his work fostering next-generation leaders and developing SGPD into a community-focused police department,” said Mark Lazzaretto, City Manager of the City of San Gabriel. “We will miss his infectious laugh, positive attitude and excellent leadership. We wish him the best of luck for his next adventure.”

As the city begins to search for a new police chief, Captain Riki Nakamura will act as the interim police chief. The position will be open for recruitment in the future and more information will be available at Jobs.SanGabrielCity.com at that time.