El Cajon Police Chief Announces Retirement After 29 Years of Service

After nearly three decades with the department and five years as the city’s top cop, El Cajon Police Chief Michael Moulton announced Thursday his plans to retire later this year, ending a tenure marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and protests over racial injustice.

“Leading this department through the pandemic and unprecedented challenges of 2020 has been one of my proudest moments,” Moulton said in a statement Thursday. “The resilience of our officers and the support of our community helped us emerge stronger, and I am proud to have been a part of that.”

Moulton’s career with the department began in November 1995, after living in El Cajon since childhood. Over the years, he served in every division, starting with the community policing unit and rising to detective status in the gang suppression unit, officials said.

In 2019, Moulton was appointed the city’s 15th police chief. Within months, the new chief led the department, first through a global pandemic and then through the civil unrest that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, sparking protests and criticism of systemic injustice and policing across the country.

These incidents have led to a further erosion of public trust in police departments. Moulton has attempted to navigate these waters by enhancing the school resource officer program, improving community engagement through social media and prioritizing transparency with the public, police department officials said in a news release.

“Moulton prioritized transparency and building relationships with the public,” police department officials said. “He believed that community trust was the foundation of an effective police department and worked to ensure the department remained open and communicative, especially during difficult times.”

Officials said Moulton was committed to innovation and supporting his team. He prioritized the automatic license plate reader program to recover stolen vehicles and used drones to improve officer response times and safety during critical incidents.

Moulton also focused on the mental health of his officers and ensuring they had the resources they needed to manage the emotional toll of their jobs, according to the department. That included overseeing the hiring of 110 officers during his tenure, as police departments across the country saw their numbers shrink.

The department currently has 199 full-time employees, including 136 sworn officers and 63 civilian employees.

“Chief Moulton led the city with integrity and compassion,” said El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells. “His leadership during difficult times and commitment to innovation were invaluable to the safety and well-being of our city. He will be greatly missed.”

The chief’s retirement date is Dec. 30. The city said it will begin searching for his replacement soon.

Originally published: September 21, 2024 at 4:52 p.m.