Interim Chief of Police


Interim Chief John Murray

Assistant Chief John Murray was named Interim Police Chief for the Salinas Police Department on January 29, 2024.

Murray has lived in Salinas for 32 years and has been a part of the Salinas Police Department for 27 years. Most recently, Murray was the Commander in the Field Operations Division and later, Assistant Chief of Police.

During his career with SPD, Chief Murray has held the rank of officer, sergeant, and commander, serving in multiple capacities including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Recruit Training Officer at the Academy, and served in special assignments including the Violence Suppression Unit, Narcotics/Vice Unit, Investigations Bureau, and the Administration Division. He served 16 years on the SWAT team, with 8 years as Team Leader and 4 years as SWAT Commander and held collateral duties including Firearms Instructor, Officer Safety Instructor, Critical Incident Stress Management Team, and Terrorism Liaison.

Chief Murray is an immigrant originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland. His family immigrated to the United States and settled in Monterey County in 1981. After four years in the U.S. Air Force military police, Chief Murray joined SPD. He holds a BA in Management from Saint Mary’s College and Master’s in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security. He is also a 2022 graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Policing, and 2022 graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class #284). 

“Salinas is my community and my home, and this is both an honor and a great responsibility. I am committed to serving the City of Salinas and the men and women of the Salinas Police Department.”

John Murray