For the first time in decades, the city of Cypress has a resident police chief as Mark Lauderback has assumed the reins of the department March 8, replacing retired police chief Rod Cox.
“I am very excited and honored to have the opportunity to be serving in a city that is very near and dear to my heart, and a state I love very much” Lauderback told the city council at their most recent meeting.
Lauderback, who was serving as Westminster’s Police Chief before being selected to replace Cox, said he’s raised his family there and long made Cypress his home.
“I just cannot tell you how excited I am to be the next police chief and how honored and humbling it is to be serving for such a great community,” said Lauderback.
“I’m looking forward to a lot of great things in the future,” he added.
Lauderback pledged to work “with the community of Cypress, the council, the Department heads and every employee in the city of Cypress to make Cypress the best city in Orange County.”
Mayor Jon Peat welcomed Lauderback to the position, noting “our community loves the police department” and said city officials are building a new facility from which the police department can operate.
Other members of the council expressed optimism as well.
“I have every confidence this is going to be a wonderful step for our police department,” said Council member Anne Hertz.
“Thank you for your service,” said council member Frances Marquez. “I’m excited to work with you and excited to see all of the things you’re going to bring to the city,” she said.
Council member Paulo Morales, a one-time Cypress police official, said he and Lauderback had spoken privately and said he looked forward to the future.
Mayor Pro-tem Stacy Berry graciously welcomed him to the post.
City manager Peter Grant, who coordinated the nationwide search, said “this is the first time in decades, at least, that the police chief would be a Cypress resident.” Also, he said, Lauderback has formally served as a career Cypress police officer, so this was the first time “in a long time” that the chief has previously served in the department.
“He has great passion and love” for this community, said Grant, so “we’re really have great confidence in the job he’s going to do.”