Santa Monica officials have appointed Darrick Jacob as the city’s next Chief of Police, marking the first time in more than 40 years that the department’s top post has been filled from within its own ranks. The appointment was announced by City Manager Oliver Chi on December 19, 2025, and took effect on December 14. Jacob will be formally sworn in on January 14, 2026.
Jacob brings more than two decades of experience with the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD). He joined the department in 2004 and has served in a variety of leadership and operational roles, including deputy chief beginning in 2020. Prior to his career with SMPD, Jacob worked with the Northridge Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
“Chief Jacob is one of the most exceptional leaders that I have had the privilege of working with in my career,” Chi said in a statement. “He brings deep institutional knowledge, exceptional judgment, and a calm, values-driven approach to leadership. During a period of real complexity for our city, he has led with humility, integrity, motivation, and care, and in the process, has earned the trust of both the organization and our community.”
As acting chief since August 2025, Jacob has focused the department’s operations around priorities including crime reduction, homelessness, traffic safety, and community engagement, guiding deployment strategies and enforcement decisions across the city. His leadership also emphasized increased officer visibility through foot patrols, bike units, and high-visibility deployments to strengthen public safety and community connections.
Under Jacob’s leadership, SMPD reached full sworn staffing for the first time in nearly 20 years, enabling expanded patrol coverage and enhanced coordination with specialized units like the Homeless Liaison Program and the Downtown Services Unit.
Before the appointment of Darrick Jacob, Santa Monica’s Police Department experienced a leadership transition triggered by the resignation of former Chief Ramon Batista in fall 2025. Batista, who had served nearly four years as Santa Monica’s police chief, announced he would step down effective October 4, 2025, citing philosophical differences with the city’s new administration in a letter to City Manager Oliver Chi.
During his tenure, Batista oversaw significant departmental changes, including rebuilding staffing levels from historic lows, implementing new technology systems, and expanding specialized units such as the Homeless Liaison Team and Directed Action Response Team.
City officials, including Chi and then-Mayor Lana Negrete, praised Batista’s contributions to public safety and his leadership of the department. Deputy Chief Darrick Jacob was named acting chief to facilitate the transition following Batista’s departure. Jacob’s appointment as permanent chief continues the leadership changes that began with Batista’s resignation under the city’s current management.
Jacob holds a bachelor’s degree in health science and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Northridge.
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