A pair of uncles and a family friend in law enforcement helped spur Santa Maria Police Department’s new chief into the career.
“I always liked hearing their stories,” Marc Schneider said, recalling that his interest began in his early teens. “I just thought that’s something I’d really like to do. … And I never really entertained any other occupation.”
On Dec. 18, City Manager Jason Stilwell announced Schneider’s appointment as acting police chief for two weeks and promotion to permanent chief effective Saturday to replace Phil Hansen, who retired.
Schneider will become the 31st chief since the city’s incorporation in 1905, according to the historical list.
A badge-pinning ceremony is scheduled during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Councilman Mike Cordero, a retired police lieutenant, said he was pleased with the appointment. The city manager, not the council, handles hiring the police chief.
“I’m really happy for him and for the community. I think he’s got the right attitude,” Cordero said.
Through the years that Cordero worked with Schneider, he said he remained even-tempered in multiple situations, the councilman recalled.
“Beyond him being a great choice, I think he will leave a lasting legacy and continue to set a standard that will be positive for the department and the community,” Cordero said.
At age 10, Schneider moved with his family from Upstate New York to Santa Maria after his grandparents had relocated to the Central Coast.
Following his graduation from Righetti High School in 1988, Schneider enrolled in administration of justice classes at Allan Hancock College and transferred to Fresno State, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminology.
He completed Hancock College’s Law Enforcement Academy and landed a job with the Pismo Beach Police Department in 1993.
Two years later, he joined the Santa Maria department, rising through the ranks, but not necessarily imagining landing the job of top cop.
“It never even dawned on me that I would be the police chief,” he said.
After a stint on patrol, he served three years with the gang suppression task force, another three years as a detective and a stint on the SWAT team among multiple assignments.
Santa Maria saw its first homicide arrest under his leadership after a fatal shooting on the former chief’s last day. It also led to the first homicide suspect arrest by detectives under his watch.
“They did a phenomenal job. They really spent a lot of time, networking with Lindsay Police Department, working with them once they figured out that the suspect might be in that area,” Schneider said.
That was one of multiple shootings, most without victims, in recent weeks investigated by Santa Maria police where shell casings or other evidence confirmed the incidents.
“It seems like it’s gang related, not outside influences but more of our local gangs,” Schneider said, adding Santa Maria police were working with law enforcement partners to stop the random shootings.
He takes the helm of the department after it recently earned a favorable report card from an outside firm’s assessment and intends to pursue the recommendations with the agency’s management team.
He said he also intends to continue and even expand the advisory panel, with plans to expand membership to include “a full spectrum of people who are stakeholders that represent different parts of the community.”
In the coming years, recruitment and hiring will be a top focus because of forecasts for a number of retirements of veteran officers, including his brother, Duane, a sergeant.
The new chief hopes to send up to eight candidates to the police academy starting in July. The hiring process, academy and field training can take 18 months for a rookie officer, so there’s some urgency.
Any new officers will join an agency with a chief who still loves the career.
“I honestly feel like for the last 28 years, I haven’t had a job. It’s one of those ideal things where you go to work but you enjoy it. When I go home, I enjoy being away from work, but when Monday morning rolls around, it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m going to work,’ and I look forward to it,” he said, adding he likes the variety.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I would do it all again. If I was picking a career brand-new today, I’d say let me be a police officer. I love it so much.”
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.