Twenty-year department veteran named to lead the agency he’s served since 2006
CATHEDRAL CITY, CA — City Manager Andrew Firestine has appointed Rick Sanchez as the city’s next Police Chief, concluding an open and competitive search advertised on a national scale and shaped by extensive community input.
Sanchez, who has served as Acting Police Chief since the retirement of Chief George Crum on December 18, 2025, makes history as the first Latino to lead the Cathedral City Police Department — a significant milestone for the city’s Latino-majority community.
A Career Built in Cathedral City
A nearly 20-year veteran of the Cathedral City Police Department, Sanchez joined the agency as a police officer in 2006 and rose steadily through its ranks. Over the course of his career he has served in Patrol, Graffiti/Gangs, as a Field Training Officer, in Investigations, and on SWAT — including 13 years with Desert Regional SWAT, where he served as a team leader, and 10 years as a member of the department’s Honor Guard. As a sergeant, he supervised Patrol, the Detective Bureau, and the Professional Standards Bureau. He was then promoted to the rank of Commander, where he oversaw Investigations. Most recently, as Deputy Chief, he has overseen the department’s Operations, Investigation, and Support Bureaus.
Sanchez holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from California Coast University and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, San Bernardino. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and the Los Angeles Police Department Leadership Program, and he completed the California POST Management and Executive Development Course.
“We conducted an extensive and competitive search, advertising the position nationally and evaluating candidates from across the country through an interview panel that included community members and partners, organizational leaders, and respected law enforcement professionals,” said City Manager Andrew Firestine. “What became clear through that process is that the leader our community was looking for had been part of our team all along. Rick stood out at every step, and he has earned the trust of this department, this city, and our residents, and he makes history as the first Latino to lead the Cathedral City Police Department. I’m confident he’s the right person to guide our officers and continue keeping our community safe.”
A Search Shaped by the Community
The position was advertised through national channels to ensure a broad and competitive pool of candidates. At the same time, the City invited all residents to help guide the selection process through a brief community survey, available in both English and Spanish. That input was used to create the position profile when the role was advertised and was shared with the evaluators who served on the interview panels.
To evaluate finalists, Firestine convened an interview panel intentionally assembled to represent every sector of Cathedral City — including former and current civic leaders, nonprofit and community organizations, and police chiefs from neighboring agencies across the region. Their perspectives ensured the selection reflected both professional expertise and the values of the community the department serves.
Throughout the search, Cathedral City sought a visionary and proven servant leader who embodies:
- A deep commitment to community-oriented policing and public trust
- Collaborative, transparent, and forward-thinking leadership
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- The ability to build trusting relationships with City Council, staff, labor groups, and the community
- A track record of accountability, cultural sensitivity, and inclusive leadership
- Strategic thinking and experience managing complex public safety operations
Across a strong and competitive field, Sanchez distinguished himself throughout the interview process — emerging as the candidate who most fully embodied those qualities and the values voiced by the community, and earning the enthusiastic support of the panel.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the City Council and City Manager have placed in me to serve as Cathedral City’s next Chief of Police,” said Police Chief Rick Sanchez. “For the past twenty years, this community has given me the opportunity to grow as an officer, a leader, and as a person. Every assignment, every challenge, and every relationship has prepared me for this responsibility, and I am grateful for the confidence placed in me to lead this outstanding organization.
“I am especially thankful to former Chief George Crum for his leadership, mentorship, and dedication to this department. His guidance helped shape both our organization and my own development as a leader, and I look forward to building upon the strong foundation he established.
“As Chief, I look forward to working alongside our exceptional employees, our City leadership, our public safety partners, and the members of our community as we continue advancing a Police Department rooted in professionalism, innovation, transparency, accountability, and service. Together, we will build on our successes, strengthen the trust we’ve earned, and ensure Cathedral City remains one of the safest and most welcoming communities in the Coachella Valley.”
About the Police Chief Position
The Police Chief serves as the top law enforcement leader of Cathedral City, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the police department and ensuring the safety and well-being of our diverse community of over 52,000 residents. This critical leadership position works under the direction of the City Manager while providing professional guidance and exercising independent judgment in implementing the City’s public safety priorities.
The Police Chief leads a department of 81.5 dedicated sworn and professional staff, operating as part of a city organization of 232 employees, with police and fire together comprising more than 50 percent of the City’s $78.1 million general fund operating budget for FY 26/27.
Cathedral City continues to be one of the safest communities in the Coachella Valley, a distinction built through the professionalism and dedication of the men and women of the Cathedral City Police Department and the strong leadership of former Police Chief George Crum. Under Chief Sanchez’s leadership, the department will build upon that foundation by embracing innovation, strengthening community partnerships, and continuing to provide exceptional public safety services to the community.
