Murrieta Police Chief Tony Conrad Announces Retirement

MURRIETA, CA — Murrieta's top law enforcement officer is stepping down.

Murrieta Police Chief Anthony Conrad announced Monday he will retire Dec. 30, 2024, after a long career in policing.

Conrad was sworn in as chief in December 2020 after being hired by the Murrieta Police Department in 2003.

Murrieta City Manager Kim Summers will appoint a new police chief from within the department's captain ranks. Conrad will work with the newly selected chief through the end of the year.

A decision on the new chief is expected to be made in the near future, according to the announcement.

"Chief Conrad has built a well-respected, community-focused, and forward-thinking department that utilizes new technology and resources to remain trustworthy to residents," Summers said. "I am sad to see Chief Conrad leave, but I thank him for his years of service and ensuring Murrieta remains one of the safest cities in the nation. I wish him the best."

Conrad started his law enforcement career with the San Diego Police Department in February 1995. He worked in East San Diego and Clairemont as a Field Training Officer and Primary Response Team member on the agency's SWAT team.

But Conrad was a Southwest Riverside County resident. In early 2003 his wife brought home a job announcement for a lateral police officer position at the Murrieta Police Department. Conrad was hired as the 44th officer at Murrieta PD.

Over the last 21 years, Conrad has worked a number of assignments with the department, including patrol, investigations, SWAT, communications, administration and Operations Captain.

Under his leadership as chief, the department navigated the COVID pandemic and also adopted new technology — automated license plate reader cameras, body-worn cameras, unmanned aerial drones, Carbyne live video, 5G handheld radios and Live 911.

Additionally, Conrad led the agency through a partnership with the Menifee Police Department to dispatch for that city. The Murrieta Police and Fire Communications Center now dispatches all calls for service for the Menifee Police Department, Murrieta Police Department, and Murrieta Fire & Rescue.

In 2011, Conrad helped lead the effort to start the department’s first social media program. In August 2022, he oversaw the 30-year Murrieta PD birthday celebration where he reflected on the department’s culture of community policing and law and order.

Since December 2020, Conrad has hired almost 90 new police employees and promoted 35 officers and staff. Today, Murrieta PD employs 114 officers and 71 professional staff members, including 32 police and fire dispatchers, according to Monday's announcement.

Conrad is the seventh Murrieta police chief in the department’s 32-year history.

Conrad holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in leadership and organizational studies from Azusa Pacific University. He also graduated from the PERF Senior Police Management Course at Boston University.

Conrad is married to his wife, Dana, a 28-year educator and a recent retiree from the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. Their son, AJ, is a Murrieta Valley Nighthawk alumnus and will graduate with his MBA from Willamette University in the spring. The family plans on remaining members of the community "and feel blessed to have lived and worked in Murrieta," according to the announcement.