Escondido has new police chief

ESCONDIDO (CNS) – Craig Carter, a 21-year veteran of the Escondido
Police Department, was sworn in as the agency's new chief this week.

He “will be an excellent police chief and will provide stability to the
city's and the police department's working relationships with businesses,
schools and community groups,” City Manager Clay Phillips said.

Carter, 50, is replacing former Chief Jim Maher, who became chief in
2006 and retired in December.

A badge-pinning ceremony for Carter, whose annual salary as chief will
be $160,550, will take place later this afternoon during a City Council
meeting, city spokeswoman Joyce Masterson said.

Carter holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Bellevue
University. He joined the Escondido Police Department as a trainee officer in
1992. He was promoted to sergeant in 1998, to lieutenant in 2005 and to captain
five months ago, Masterson said.

Mike Garcia, head of the Escondido Police Officers Association, said the
organization's membership was “very excited” about the prospect of working
with the new chief and his support staff.

“As president of the association, I firmly believe the community and
the department will prosper under the professional leadership of Chief Carter
and his team,” he said.

About 150 officers work for the Escondido Police Department, which
serves the city of around 144,000 people.