The Santa Ana Police Department is proud to announce the selection of our next Public Information Officer (PIO), Corporal Maria Lopez.

As the “face” of the Santa Ana Police Department, we are proud to have Corporal Lopez as the first PIO raised in Santa Ana. She is a product of the Santa Ana Unified School District. She attended Madison Elementary, Lathrop Intermediate and graduated from Century High School. Corporal Lopez attended San Francisco State University on a basketball scholarship and ultimately obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from California State University of Chico. Corporal Lopez is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego.

Corporal Lopez has 13 years of law enforcement experience with the department and has worked various assignments. Her prior assignments include patrol in an officer and corporal capacity, field-training officer, civic center detail, domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault detective. Corporal Lopez’s most recent assignment was supervising the sexual assault and domestic violence units as a Corporal.

Corporal Lopez is also an explorer advisor and served as a captain for our Baker to Vegas Running Team for four years. In 2017, the Santa Ana Elks Lodge selected Corporal Lopez as Detective of the Year. Also in 2017, Corporal Lopez was selected as the California 69th District “Woman of the Year”.