Ian Schmutzler

I started my law enforcement career as an intern in the Youth Services Bureau at the Suisun City Police Department in 1996. After graduating from Sacramento State in Spring of 1997, I was hired by the Oakland Police Department, where I worked as a police officer until early 2000, when I was hired by the Vacaville Police Department. I was an FTO and Narcotics Enforcement Team detective until I was promoted to sergeant in the Fall of 2006. As a sergeant I supervised a number of adjunct assignments, including the Defensive Tactics Team, Critical Incident Negotiations Team, K-9 Team, and Peer Support Team. I was promoted to lieutenant in the Summer of 2011 and assigned to the Field Operations Division until my promotion to captain in the Spring of 2014. As a captain for nearly eight years, I was the commander of each of the two bureaus (Field Operations Bureau and Field Support Bureau) and was the sole second-in-command for most of that time. I was promoted to chief of police in January of 2022 and I am thoroughly enjoying my role at the Vacaville Police Department.