Redlands Chief of Police Christopher R. Catren was sworn in as 57th president of the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) on Feb. 9, for a one-year term, following his election by the membership and Board of Directors.
Chief Catren brings extensive experience to the position of President of CPCA, having been in law enforcement for 28 years. He was appointed Redlands Chief of Police in 2017 and has been with the department since 1994.
Chief Catren was appointed to the CPCA Board of Directors in 2019 and elected Vice President in 2021. He has served the association in a variety of capacities, including as chair of the Finance Committee and as the association’s representative on the Board of Directors of the League of Cities.
“As president of the association, I look forward to the challenges we face as a profession,” Chief Catren said. “CPCA is the voice and resource of choice for California’s law enforcement leaders. Our vision is to advance California law enforcement leadership and shape the future of policing. Cal Chiefs has been at the forefront of helping pioneer police reform. CPCA looks forward to leaning into areas where we can continue to distinguish ourselves as leaders in policing. Arguably, our profession is under unprecedented scrutiny at a time when violent crime is rising in many cities. We acknowledge there are areas where we must continue to improve but we also need to make serving and protecting our communities a priority.
“Right now, I believe CPCA’s number one priority is helping agencies and communities by addressing rising crime rates with evidence-based policing strategies. We endeavor to accomplish this by working with legislative partners to enact effective laws, ensuring adequate training is available, and encouraging community-based approaches to crime issues.”
Chief Catren brings strong credentials, including a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, San Bernardino, and is also a graduate of the California POST Command College.
The California Police Chiefs Association represents the state’s municipal police chiefs whose agencies protect over 26 million Californians.
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