San Jose police Chief Anthony Mata plans to retire in March and take on a new role with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.
Mata, who has been with the police department for 28 years and served as the chief since 2021, is set to become the investigations bureau chief for the district attorney’s office in April, according to the police department.
Mata released the following statement:
This decision was not easy, but after careful consideration, I believe it is the right time for me to embark on a new role with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. I am incredibly grateful for the support and encouragement I have received throughout my career. It is the collaboration with the residents, community leaders, City Administration, Mayor and Council, and countless Department members who made being Chief of Police possible.
Our success has been a direct result of the hard work, dedication, and professionalism shown by every member of this department, every day. I have full faith and confidence that the unparalleled commitment to this community and the high standards that have made SJPD the leader in our profession will continue. I am forever grateful for the memories and friendships I made within the organization and in the community.
It is essential that the great work San José officers do is supported by successful investigations and prosecutions at the District Attorney's office. Like me, our District Attorney believes in providing the highest level of service to our community and I look forward to continuing to do that in a new capacity just across the street.
Mata will leave at a time when homicides in San Jose are at national lows, and his detectives have solved almost all of them.
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"[He] has, I think, done a very good job of building trust with our community," San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said. "You go out into the neighborhoods and you will see Chief Mata out there interacting with our very diverse community across San Jose."
Now, the search is on for a new police chief.
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"Someone who’s going to build on that foundation of community engagement, community policing, trust and transparency, and earning the respect and trust of both the rank and file officers as well as community members," Mahan said.
Community groups said they'll be hands on during the recruitment and hiring process.
"I'm not going to say I would like to be a part of it. We expect to be a part of it," Silicon Valley NAACP President Rev. Jethroe Moore said. "We and several other community groups that I'm in partnership with throughout this community, both sides of the table I guess you would say, I expect us all to be a part of the process of the interviewing and selection of the police chief."
The city manager will begin a nationwide search, which will include internal candidates.
