The Santa Barbara Police Department has promoted five sworn law enforcement officers. Chief Bernard Melekian held a promotional ceremony April 14, honoring four newly promoted sergeants and one lieutenant.
Ceremonies such as this have not been taking place due to the covid pandemic. However, with the county easing restrictions, the event was able to be attended by a limited number of participants adhering to safety guidelines.
“The men and women who were promoted today are the future of the Santa Barbara Police Department and the law enforcement profession,” Melekian said. “I am very proud of each of them for what they have accomplished, and what they will accomplish to make this city a safer place.”
Those promoted were:
Sgt. Allan Tuazon (detective to sergeant) attended California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. After graduating from CSULA, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy.
Tuazon served in leadership roles in operations, recruitment, retention and logistics. He was honorably discharged at the rank of lieutenant after 7½ years of service.
Tuazon earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. Upon graduating, he worked as a psychiatric social worker for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
In 2011, Tuazon began his career with the Santa Barbara Police Department. In the last 10 years he has worked as a patrol officer, Street Crimes Unit officer, and school resource officer. He earned the position of narcotics detective, where he served for two years until he was promoted to sergeant.
Tuazon is currently assigned to the Field Operations Division, and for the last five years has also served as a member of the SWAT Team.
Sgt. Antonio Montojo (officer to sergeant) earned his bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University in 2005.
In 2007, he joined the San Mateo Police Department and achieved the following in his tenure: narcotics detective and gang investigator in the Special Investigations Bureau; court-recognized narcotics expert; field training officer, SWAT Team member; assistant SWAT Team leader; promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2016.
In 2019, Montojo lateralled to the Santa Barbara Police Department and worked as a patrol officer assigned to the Field Operations Division.
Sgt. Charles Venable (officer to sergeant) started his career at the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department, where he worked as a custody deputy for 3½ years. This marks his 20th anniversary with the city of Santa Barbara.
During his Police Department career, Venable has been a part-time motor officer for 14 years, a crime scene investigator for four years, and six years as a field training officer. He is a department instructor in de-escalation and less lethal options. Venable has utilized his bilingual abilities to assist with instruction at the Spanish Speaking Citizen’s Academy.
Sgt. Stephanie Trujillo (officer to sergeant) Trujillo joined the United States Army at age 17. She served eight years in the U.S. Army as part of a Combat Support Military Police Unit. In those years, she was deployed twice under Operation Enduring Freedom. She was honorably discharged from the Army at the rank of sergeant.
Trujillo has been with the Santa Barbara Police Department for seven years; she served as a field training officer for four years. She is also a member of several department cadres to include the Honor Guard, Training and Recruitment Cadre, as well as the Active Shooter Instructor Cadre.
Lt. Bryan Jensen (sergeant to lieutenant) moved to Santa Barbara in 1996 to attend UCSB earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In 2001, he joined the Santa Barbara Police Department and has worked as a dispatcher, a patrol and Drinking Driver Team officer; a detective in both Crimes Against Property and Crimes Against Persons.
In 2012 Jensen was promoted to the rank of sergeant and has served as a supervisor in Patrol, Investigative Youth Services, Professional Standards, and Community Services — Neighborhood Policing. He also served as acting lieutenant assigned as the manager for the Combined Communications Center.
Bryan has held collateral assignments on the Crisis Negotiations Response Team and as a bomb technician with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Bomb Squad.