LA MESA SELECTS A NEW POLICE CHIEF

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October 11, 2011 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa City Manager Dave Witt has announced the selection of 25-year La Mesa Police Department veteran Edward (Ed) Aceves as the City’s new Chief of Police.

 

Witt said that Aceves competed against candidates from outside the organization and proved that he has exceptional qualities that will help him succeed in his new position.  Aceves has served as Police Captain, overseeing each of the Police Department’s three divisions during his tenure. Last month he was appointed acting Chief of Police upon the retirement of Chief Alan Lanning.

   

Aceves began his career with the La Mesa Police Department as a reserve police officer in 1985. In 1986, he was hired as a full-time police officer, where his assignments included patrol officer, detective, DARE officer, field training officer, and department instructor for defensive tactics and emergency vehicle operations. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1997, Lieutenant in 2002, and Captain in 2005. During this time,  Aceves has supervised the patrol, traffic, and investigative units, along with performing duties as the Master Officer Coordinator and Special Response Team (SRT) Commander.

 

In 2009,  Aceves attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, a 3-month leadership program established by the FBI to provide training and networking opportunities to local and state law enforcement agencies. He is currently pursuing a postgraduate master of criminal justice, after receiving a scholarship from the FBI NAA.

 

While working at the La Mesa Police Department, some of his notable assignments and accomplishments include being selected to participate on the International Security Team for the Olympic Games, where he traveled to Atlanta to work with 5,000 other police officers from all over the world, providing security for the 1996 Summer Games.   More recently,  Aceves was assigned as the police project coordinator for the construction of the new La Mesa Police facility, which opened September 20, 2010.

 

Aceves grew up in La Mesa, and graduated form Helix High School.  He and his wife reside in La Mesa where they raised their two daughters, who also graduated from Helix Charter High School, and are currently attending college full-time.

 

“Ed participated in a very thorough application process that attracted a wide range of candidates from both inside and out of the region. I have every confidence that Ed is the most qualified candidate for La Mesa’s new Chief and will continue to provide that energy and professional commitment needed in his new role with the Department,” Witt said.


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