San Gabriel Valley : Pasadena Appoints a New Police Chief
Pasadena’s new police chief is Bernard K. Melekian, a Santa Monica police captain whose family came to the City of Roses decades ago as refugees, city officials announced Thursday.
Melekian, 46, who rose through Santa Monica’s ranks to become a captain five years ago, will begin his new duties April 30, said City Manager Philip Hawkey, who made the appointment. Known as an innovator, Melekian succeeds Jerry Oliver, who left the department last May to become police chief in Richmond, Va.
“Barney Melekian possesses the vision, enthusiasm and motivational skills I believe are essential for furthering our community policing program and creating a partnership with the community,” Hawkey said.
Melekian, selected from a field of 50 candidates, becomes the first Armenian American chief for a city where one in 20 residents are of Armenian descent.
“This is a magnificent moment. This man’s grandparents came from Armenia to Pasadena as refugees decades ago and now he’s our police chief. It’s the American Dream,” said Mayor Bill Paparian, also an Armenian American.
Melekian said the people of Pasadena and the Police Department made him want to come to the city along with their commitment to community policing.
“Community policing can’t be a series of programs, it must a state of mind,” Melekian said.
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