Interim City Manager Lane Dilg and Police Chief Cynthia Renaud are jointly announcing the Chief’s retirement, effective October 25, 2020.

“Chief Renaud is a skilled law enforcement leader who has served Santa Monica with dedication during her tenure,” said Interim City Manager Dilg. “During a time when our City, our nation, and our law enforcement communities have faced unprecedented challenges, Chief Renaud has served this community tirelessly. We are grateful for her service in these historic times.”

Chief Renaud came to Santa Monica in April 2018. After successfully reducing crime in her previous community, she applied those skills in Santa Monica, reducing crime by 16% last year. Chief Renaud led the Santa Monica Police Department through regional changes and adapted operations, including increasing the number of specially trained officers who support citywide efforts to address regional homelessness, leading the Department during COVID-19 and taking the first steps to advance public safety reform. However, recognizing that recent events both here in Santa Monica and around the nation have strained community-police relations, Chief Renaud has made the decision to step aside so that the Santa Monica Police Department can continue to move forward.

“Serving as Chief in Santa Monica has been one of the highlights of my career,” Chief Renaud said. “I am proud of our record over the past two years in times of unprecedented scrutiny and challenge for law enforcement. In my role as President of the IACP, I will be focused on rebuilding the relationships of trust on which all successful law enforcement is based. I am grateful to the men and women of the Santa Monica Police Department for the honor of leading them and to the City of Santa Monica for choosing me for this opportunity.”

Chief Renaud will assume the presidency of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) on October 23rd. She was chosen to lead that organization from among its 31,000 members in 165 nations.

Chief Renaud’s last day will be October 25, 2020.