After 24 years of public safety service in Oceanside, Oceanside Police Chief Kedrick Sadler will retire on Sunday.
City Manager Jonathan Borrego said, “We thank Chief Sadler for his long and dedicated service to the Oceanside community. He’s led the Police Department with the utmost integrity, transparency and commitment.”
“It’s my privilege to announce Assistant Police Chief Taurino as our next chief of police,” Borrego said. “With decades of dedicated service to our community, Chief Valdovinos brings proven leadership and a deep understanding of our city’s public safety needs.”
Borrego added that the new chief plans to “prioritize direct community engagement, and is planning a series of community listening sessions, providing residents an opportunity to share their vision, experiences and perspectives on policing in Oceanside.”
The appointment will be effective Monday following Sadler’s retirement.
Sadler said, “I have all the faith in the world that Assistant Chief Valdovinos will make an outstanding police chief and lead our department into the future. He has accomplished so much in the Oceanside community. I hope you’ll join me in congratulating him.”
Valdovinos joined the department in 2003 and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Saint Mary’s College of California and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.
He is a 2022 graduate of the FBI National Academy and the San Diego County Regional Leadership Institute. Valdovinos has worked in patrol, on the Neighborhood Policing Team and Uniform Gang Suppression. He also served in an undercover capacity as a detective in the Special Enforcement Section, where he was a court-certified gang expert.
Valdovinos was assigned as a Force Options Training Simulator instructor and a SWAT team member before his promotion to sergeant in January 2013. In that role, he served as a patrol supervisor and later supervised the Neighborhood Policing Team.
In June 2015, he was promoted to Lieutenant and served as a Lieutenant in each of the department’s three divisions.
In addition to his responsibilities with the department, Valdovinos is an adjunct professor for the University of San Diego’s Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership master’s degree program and serves on the board for Vista Community Clinic.
A swearing-in ceremony for Valdovinos will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council Chambers.
