Los Alamitos City Manager Chet Simmons has announced that Los Alamitos Police Chief Eric R. Nuñez has been named the California Police Chiefs Association’s (CPCA) 55th President. Nunez will serve for a one-year-term beginning April 20 following his election by the membership on a Zoom conference call with the Board of Directors, the city official said.
“Los Alamitos has always been a city that punches well above its weight,” said Simmons. “With Chief Nunez’s election to be California’s next ‘Chief of Chiefs’, our small City will benefit from his access and ability to shape policing policy for the entire state,” he added.
“Chief Nuñez is exactly the type of leader that the CPCA needs to serve in this role during these difficult times. He is a steady hand in a storm and the organization will be able to lean against his ability to find real world solutions to difficult issues they are going to face in the coming year. I applaud the Board’s decision in electing him.”
Chief Nuñez brings extensive experience to the position of president of CPCA, having been in law enforcement for 29 years. Was appointed chief of police for the City of La Palma in 2010, before becoming the chief at Los Alamitos PD in 2016. Chief Nuñez was appointed to the CPCA Board of Directors in 2014 and elected 3rd Vice President in 2017.
He has served the association in a variety of capacities, including as co-chair of the Legislative Committee, chair of the Finance Committee, and chair of the Emerging Issues Committee. He brings a passion for improving community and officer safety, enhanced transparency and increased accountability of our law enforcement profession across California and is a staunch legislative advocate for public safety and security.
Chief Nuñez brings strong credentials including an Executive Master’s in leadership from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Public Administration from the University of La Verne. He is a past President for Orange County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff Association, the past chair for Integrated Law and Justice Agency of Orange County (ILJAOC), and is the current Chair for the Orange County Remote Access Network Board (OCRAN Board) who oversees the countywide AFIS system, biometric identification and facial recognition programs.
“I am truly humbled by the opportunity to lead the association in its efforts to be the voice of and
resource of choice for California’s municipal police chiefs,” said Chief Nuñez. “As an association I believe that we are one of the most qualified practitioners of law enforcement, as such, it is imperative that CPCA plays a vital support role for those responsible for creating public safety policy. We need to not only be a significant influencer of public safety legislation but a trusted voice for our state and even federal legislators in the formation of long-term strategic solutions to combat and prevent crime, make victims a priority, and to ensure the criminal justice system is operated in a fair and impartial environment.”
“Right now, I believe CPCA’s number one priority is to provide support and best practices to our association’s membership so that they are better informed when leading their police departments and managing the public safety concerns for their respective communities through this global pandemic,” Chief Nuñez emphasized. Many of these best practices have been implemented at Los Alamitos Police Department.
Since coming to Los Alamitos Chief Nuñez has reinstated and instituted a number of community outreach programs. A number of these outreach initiatives have directly benefited by his involvement at the State level by his networking with the Board of State Community Corrections (BSCC) to secure additional funding for mid to small size police departments to help support programs that deal with kids in crisis, at risk youth and homelessness.
Locally, he serves on the Board of Directors for Casa Youth Shelter and Sunburst Youth Academy and is a member of the Los Alamitos/Seal Beach Rotary Club, and has even got a chance to be an Assistant Coach under Head Coach Ray Felton for the Varsity Football Team at Los Alamitos High School.