Fairfield swears in a new police chief
Deanna Cantrell was sworn in Wednesday as the Fairfield Police Department’s newest chief — and the city’s first- ever female chief.
“We would like to welcome Chief Cantrell, and her partner, Kristi to our wonder ful community, and the Fairfield Police Depar tment family as our 13th Police Chief to lead our distinguished agency,” officials said in as press statement. “Chief Cantrell is eager to learn the culture and become an active member of our diverse community.
“As the chief of police, Cantrell is committed to working in partnership with our community to preserve and enhance the quality of life through effective community policing, crime prevention, education, depar tment transparency and innovative law enforcement.”
Cantrell has headed the San Luis Obispo Police Department since 2016.
Prior to that, she served with the Mesa, Arizona Police Department for 21 years. She left as the assistant chief of the Administrative Services Bureau, where she oversaw Fiscal, Supply, Fleet, Police Information Technology, Communications, Records and the Forensics Lab.
She had also served as the deputy chief of Special Operations, as a patrol commander, Internal Affairs lieutenant and sergeant, Gang and Patrol lieutenant, a motor officer in Traffic, and other special operations positions prior to her promotion. She chaired the Diversity Team, servied on the NAACP Legal Redress Committee and the Muslim Police Advisory Board, and as the chair of the Human Rights Forum in Mesa.
In San Luis Obispo, she founded the Po - lice And Community Together (PACT) committee, which was awarded the Anti-Defamation League Sherwood Prize in March 2019 for combating hate. She serves on the International Association of Chiefs of Police ( IACP) Professional Standards, Ethics, and Image committee; is the Region 12 Representative for the California Police Chiefs A ssociation ( C P C A); served on the Changing the Narrative Committee; and is co- chair of the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Committee.
In 2018, she was named a 24th District Congressional Woman of the year.
Cantrell holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Administration from Northern Arizona University. She is a graduate of Northwestern University Police Staff and Command School and the International Association of Chief of Police Leadership in Policing Organizations Training.
She also served as an adjunct faculty member for Northwestern University teaching policy, contemporary policing, executive image, internal conflict and strategic planning.
Cantrell will be introduced to the community during the Oct. 20 City Council meeting.