The Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education appoints new Police Chief

The Board of Education appointed Hector Rodriguez, Ed.D. during the December 10, 2013 Board meeting. “I’m truly excited to have the opportunity to help build upon the accomplishments of former Chief David Valentin and the strong reputation the current officers of the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department have worked so hard to establish. I want to work collaboratively with the Board, educators, students and all of the District stakeholders to create the safest and highest achieving learning community in the nation,” Dr. Rodriguez said regarding his appointment.

Dr. Rodriguez comes to SAUSD from Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) where he recently served as Deputy Chief of Police. He also served as Acting Deputy Chief, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective, and Officer, all in LAUSD. Although Rodriguez has spent 22 years serving in the School Police Division of LAUSD, he began his career in the district as a teacher. “I bring a wide range of personal, professional, and educational experiences which give me a very unique and meaningful perspective to the position of Chief of Police for the Santa Ana Unified School District. I not only have an extensive public safety experience, but I also have a significant amount of teaching experience in multiple settings, including K-12.

Dr. Rodriguez’s educational background includes a Doctorate of Education, Master of Executive Leadership, and Master of Science in Education all from University of Southern California. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from California State University, Long Beach, and an Associate of Arts in Business from East Los Angeles College.

He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.