SOLEDAD — Police Chief Patrick Valenzuela has left the Soledad Police Department after leading the agency for just over a year, with two longtime department members stepping into acting leadership roles.
The City of Soledad announced Friday that it and Valenzuela “mutually agreed to conclude his service” on July 30. Valenzuela was hired in July 2025 after the retirement of Chief Damon Wasson, who stepped down following 17 years with the department.
Effective immediately, City Manager Megan Hunter appointed Jorge Arreola as acting chief of police and Juan Santiago as acting deputy chief.
Arreola has served the Soledad Police Department for 20 years, while Santiago has served the department for nine years. The city said both bring extensive experience in law enforcement operations, administration, training and community policing.
During his tenure, Valenzuela focused on strengthening the department by developing the next generation of leadership and investing in the professional growth of police personnel, according to the city.
A key objective of Valenzuela’s appointment was to mentor and prepare internal leaders for future executive roles within the department. The city said those efforts helped develop a leadership team positioned to continue serving the community.
“The City is fortunate to have exceptional leaders ready to step into these roles,” Hunter said. “Chief Valenzuela’s commitment to mentoring future leaders has created a seamless transition that allows the department to continue providing the high level of service our community expects.”
The city said it does not anticipate conducting an external recruitment for a permanent police chief at this time, citing the experience of the department’s current leadership team.
