Former Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian Now Heading Santa Barbara PD

Former Pasadena police chief Bernard “Barney” Melekian has begun serving a new role as interim police chief for the Santa Barbara Police Department, according to city officials.

In the time since he retired as police chief in Pasadena in 2009, after leading the department for 15 years, Melekian went on to serve as Director of the Office Community Oriented Police Services in the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as undersheriff in Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant County Executive Officer for the County of Santa Barbara.

“He brings 46 years of law enforcement experience to the position,” Santa Barbara city officials said in a written statement.

He will lead the Santa Barbara Police Department on an interim basis as the city conducts a nationwide search for a permanent chief, officials said.

Melekian took the helm from Santa Barbara Police Chief Lori Luhnow, who officially retired on Feb. 13.

Melekian told the Santa Barbara News-Press that he expected to hold the post for six to eight months, adding that he’d been “impressed” with what he’d seen of the Santa Barbara PD.

Melekian said he was prepared for the challenges facing modern law enforcement agencies.

“I bring a lot of experience in dealing with issues of race and disenfranchised communities,” he told the News-Press. “What I find exciting is — and it’s already been brought to the table by Chief Luhnow — but something I’ve learned in my career is that an individual officer can make a difference in every life they contact. That philosophy is what I hope to bring, and to help ensure that, as the process goes forward, that the next chief embraces those ideals as well.”