Message from the Chief

Lieutenant_Kennedy
It is truly an honor and a privilege to have been selected as the Chief of Police for Rancho Santa Margarita. The police services team and I will be striving to provide the highest level of services to the community, form partnerships, and provide professional and caring police services to our community. We value police-community relationships and intend to protect our communities by embracing community outreach, provide public awareness campaigns to safeguard our community, be responsive to our citizens, and proactively address crimes. 

Our law enforcement team is dedicated and committed to our department’s values and mission, “to provide exceptional law enforcement services free from prejudice or favor, with leadership, integrity and respect.” I will lead our team practicing the concepts of the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics and always remember the badge is a symbol of public faith, and we are public servants with a duty to protect the Constitutional rights of all.
 
Rancho Santa Margarita City Council and management team’s top priority is public safety, to provide safe school environments, support businesses, and improve our citizens’ quality of life. 

I look forward to working collaboratively with the community, businesses, school administrators, city staff, and elected officials and ensure the goal of maintaining our city as the safest city in the county is achieved. 

I began my career with the OCSD 27 years ago. I worked custody, patrol operations, four different investigations details as an investigator and investigative supervisor. As a lieutenant, I managed jail operations as a watch commander and field operations as a department commander. These assignments refined my supervising, management, and leadership skills and exposed me to high-profile criminal events, critical incidents, and community engagements. However, the time that shaped me into who I am today, was my patrol assignment to the Southeast Division. I am excited to be back home.

Captain Mihaela Kennedy
Chief of Police Services