Kevin Martin, a police captain who also has served as interim chief, has been named the new leader of the Lompoc Police Department.
Martin has led the agency since Chief Joe Mariani left at the end of 2022. He was sworn in Tuesday night at the start of the City Council meeting, where City Clerk Stacey Haddon administered the oath of office.
“I am humbled and honored to lead this wonderfully dedicated group of people, and I will work hard every day for them and for the citizens of this community,” Martin said after his wife, Gina, pinned on the new chief’s badge.
A number of top law enforcement officers were on hand for the ceremony, including Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, a former Lompoc police chief, along with retired LPD chiefs Timothy Dabney, Pat Walsh and Mariani. Another former chief, Larry Ralston, could not attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Martin noted the role that his former colleagues have had on this career, highlighting Mariani’s mentorship in the past four years.
“He continued to teach until the day he retired. His guidance was not just to me but to all the department members and personnel who were willing to accept that mentorship and instruction,” Martin said. “Had Chief Mariani not shared his wisdom and been wiling to mentor me, I would not be standing here today as your chief of police.”
He also thanked the department’s employees for their hard work and dedication to Lompoc residents.
“You are an amazing group of people, and I am honored to be your chief,” Martin said.
He recalled standing in then-Chief Bob Hebert’s office — now Martin’s office — 29 years ago this month and being sworn in as a Lompoc police officer for the first time.
“My goal as your chief is to create an environment where a young officer starting their career today can be mentored and developed into the future chief of police so that the city never has to go outside (for a new chief) ever again,” Martin said.
City Manager Dean Albro congratulated Martin on his new role.
“I have faith that Chief Martin’s wealth of experience and deep commitment to public service will serve him well in this new role, and that he will continue to be an outstanding leader for the police department and in the community,” Albro said in a written statement.
The new chief began his career in law enforcement in 1991 with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and went on to join the Lompoc Police Department in 1994.
In 2003, Martin moved over to the Santa Maria Police Department and served as a detective after one year of service. He was selected as one of two detectives tasked with starting the high-tech crimes unit for SMPD.
While assigned in this role, Martin developed skills in computer forensics and cellphone forensics.
In 2007, Martin left the full-time police job to teach other law enforcement members in the United States and around the world about cellphone forensics.
Two years later, he returned to law enforcement and was rehired by the Lompoc Police Department.
He rose through the ranks and was named captain in 2019, working alongside Mariani.
Before his law enforcement career, Martin spent seven years in the U.S. Air Force as a firefighter, including a stint in the Middle East for Operation Desert Shield/Storm.