Crime & Safety

New Police Chief Named for Murrieta

Capt. Sean Hadden will succeed Murrieta police Chief Mike Baray, it was announced Wednesday.

A new chief of police has been selected for Murrieta.

Capt. Sean Hadden has been appointed chief of the Murrieta Police Department by City Manager Rick Dudley and will assume the role Sept. 3, according to a news release issued at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Hadden will replace outgoing Murrieta police chief Mike Baray, who is retiring from the department and has accepted the position of chief of investigations for the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Chief Baray did an outstanding job during his tenure and was the first Murrieta Chief to have served in every rank within the Murrieta Police Department, starting as a police officer in 1992 when the department was formed. We are very sorry to see him leave; however, we wish him continued success in Ventura,” Dudley said in the statement.

Interviews for the chief position were conducted by Dudley, with the intent being to promote from within.

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hadden, who resides in Murrieta with his family, has been with the Murrieta Police Department since its inception, and served in every rank. He brings more than 25 years of law enforcement experience to the chief position, beginning his career in 1988 with the Perris Police Department before coming to Murrieta in 1992. 

"I am very honored to be selected," Hadden said, in an email to Patch. "Murrieta is a great city and I look forward to this new opportunity to serve our community."

The new chief holds a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Azusa Pacific University, and a master's degree in management from the University of Redlands.

Hadden also recently completed the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston, a prestigious program for police managers, and is a graduate of both the Los Angeles Police Department's Leadership Program and the Sherman Block Leadership Program.

A passing of the badge ceremony, in which Hadden will be sworn in as chief, has tentatively been scheduled for early September at City Hall, Baray previously told Patch.

Baray also previously said his successor would mirror him in his duties before taking over.

A number of other rank-and-file promotions will be triggered as a result of Hadden’s move from captain to chief. Once finalized, those new positions and titles will be announced, Lt. Rob Firmes told Patch Wednesday.



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