artvenegasbio

Born in Mexico, Chief Venegas and his family immigrated to the U.S. in 1958 settling in Santa Maria, California. Chief Venegas dropped out of high school and entered into the military, serving with the 101st Airborne Division in the US and Vietnam. Chief Venegas began his law enforcement career in June 1969 with the Fresno Police Department and served in various ranks until Jan 1993, when he as appointed as Chief of Police for the City of Sacramento. He retired in February 2003.

Long a proponent of Community Policing, Chief Venegas knows that public safety success can only be achieved with the trust, support and engagement of each and every member of a community.

Chief Venegas now has a BA degree from the University of San Francisco and a MS degree from California State University Polytechnic, Pomona. He is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and National Executive Institute, the California Law Enforcement Command College and other California POST accredited studies. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, National Latino Peace Officers Association, Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, California Police Chiefs Association, Fresno Police Officers Association, American Legion, 101st Airborne Division Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

ARTURO VENEGAS, JR.