San Jose is set to welcome its new Police Chief, Paul Joseph, on October 28th. After a rigorous recruitment process, City Manager Jennifer Maguire announced his appointment, highlighting Joseph’s extensive experience and dedication to innovative community engagement.
“Paul is an experienced, courageous, and fair leader,” Maguire remarked. “He is not afraid to embrace new technologies, engage in deep conversations with the community, and is committed to providing high-quality public safety services to our residents. He understands our city, loves serving our community, and has the ability and experience to hit the ground running from day one.”
Mayor Matt Mahan expressed his support for Joseph’s appointment, stating that Joseph is not only a dedicated law enforcement professional but also a leader who consistently stands on the front lines during crises. “Paul is exactly the leader we need; he has the capability to help us rebuild our police force and ensure the safety of San Jose residents,” Mahan added.
Upon accepting the position, Joseph spoke about the honor and sense of responsibility he feels in taking on the role of Police Chief. Reflecting on his career since joining the police force in 1994, he noted his progression from a patrol officer to the acting chief of police, highlighting his experience in various key roles.
“I am incredibly honored to lead the dedicated members of the San Jose Police Department,” Joseph shared. “I look forward to working closely with our diverse community to create a safer environment for every resident in San Jose.”
Joseph’s appointment followed a thorough selection process that involved significant community input. The transparent method of gathering citizen feedback on the police chief candidates aimed to ensure that the new Police Chief reflects the community’s needs.
As the new Police Chief, Joseph outlined three primary initiatives to enhance public safety services. He committed to leveraging the latest technologies to help the department combat crime more effectively. Certain non-core policing tasks will be delegated to specialized support personnel to optimize resource allocation. In some situations, community organizations may be better suited to address specific issues than the police. Joseph will support these alternatives to provide more comprehensive services to the public.
City officials noted that Joseph holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco and has completed several law enforcement leadership training programs, including a course with the Los Angeles Police Department. As a member of the California Bar Association, Joseph’s legal and law enforcement knowledge will serve as valuable support in his leadership of the San Jose Police Department.
