New Santa Monica Police Chief Announced

SANTA MONICA, CA – Cynthia Renaud has been named the next Santa Monica police chief, which will bring the law enforcement veteran back to the Southland where she began her career, it was announced Tuesday.

Renaud has been the police chief of the city of Folsom for the past seven years. Before that, she served in the Long Beach Police Department for two decades.

"The job of police chief is all about character and leadership," said Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole. "Chief Renaud is a nationally respected law enforcement leader who spent the first 20 years of her outstanding career in Southern California. She will hit the ground running to address public safety challenges in Santa Monica."

Renaud is replacing Chief Kenneth Semko, who became the city's top cop on an interim basis following the retirement last year of Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks.

Renaud, who is the third vice president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, is expected to begin her new assignment at the end of April.

She will oversee 460 personnel with an annual operating budget of $86.6 million, and will earn an annual salary of $265,440.

City News Service; Image via Santa Monica Police Department