Sacramento’s interim police chief sworn in and takes reins of Police Department
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- Zachary Bales was sworn in Friday as interim Sacramento police chief.
- Bales plans to continue combating violent crime and push technology initiatives forward.
- Sacramento faces a $66 million budget deficit and the department has 650 of 733 sworn.
Interim Sacramento Police Chief Zachary Bales said he never expected to lead the department where he has served in a variety of roles over the past 24 years.
Before entering law enforcement, Bales served as an armored cavalry officer in the Army and attained the rank of captain. After the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, he said he wanted to find another way to serve. He joined the Sacramento Police Department in 2002.
“I was not planning on ascending to this position,” Bales told The Sacramento Bee. “But with the departure of Chief Lester, there has to be somebody willing to step up and lead the men and women of the Police Department.”
On Friday, Bales was sworn in at Sacramento City Hall as interim police chief. He replaced Chief Kathy Lester, the first woman to lead the department, who is retiring after more than three decades in law enforcement.
Most recently, Bales served as deputy chief of the Office of Investigations, where he oversaw major investigative units. In more than two decades with the department, Bales has worked as a patrol officer, homicide detective, internal affairs investigator and patrol watch commander. He also held leadership roles in training, recruiting and community engagement.
“I have worked in every major division in the department with a variety of different assignments, operational, investigative and administrative,” Bales said Friday in an interview shortly after his swearing-in ceremony. “I’ve become fortunate enough to have such a variety of assignments that I have the depth and knowledge to be able to really run the entire department.”
The department has seen sharp declines in crime in Sacramento over the past year across several major categories, including homicides and robberies. Bales said he plans to keep the department moving in the right direction.
“Right now I’m charged with just leading the department during this time of transition,” Bales said. “That really means building on the successes that we’ve already endured this year. We’re going to continue to combat violent crime. We’re going to continue to innovate and push our technology initiatives forward. I think while there is a transition in leadership, there’s continuity of mission.”
Sacramento is facing a $66 million budget deficit that has led to discussions about cutting vacant police positions and reassigning officers. The City Council is looking to make cuts to balance its budget for the third consecutive year.
The Police Department has 650 sworn officers, 83 fewer than the 733 authorized positions, leaving the department about 11% below full staffing. The department has faced scrutiny for using vacant positions to help pay for sworn officers working overtime. Last year, the agency paid more than $15 million in overtime.
Bales said the city’s budget is a year-over-year process. He said the Police Department needs additional resources and asks for as many as possible to help keep Sacramento safe.
“That said, we will accomplish the mission with what we have,” Bales said. “The elected officials and the city manager have to decide exactly what amount of money that they’re able to dedicate, that way we make best use of every one of those dollars and keep people safe.”
Bales has been involved in community and professional organizations, including serving as a board member for the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Sacramento and the Sacramento Police Sheriff Memorial. He also has participated as an expert panel member for the Mentors in Law Enforcement program, which works with Sacramento State’s Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars program to support diverse candidates pursuing careers in policing.
He said Lester has been very helpful in the leadership transition. Bales said he has met with stakeholders throughout Sacramento and made himself available so they know they have “an ambassador” in him at the Police Department.
“And that’s probably one of the biggest pieces of advice that she’s given me,” Bales said about Lester. “It is to maintain and grow relationships in and out of the department in order to be able to have people feel like this is their Police Department.”
His job is temporary, however. The Sacramento City Council and the city manager will launch a search to hire a permanent replacement for Lester.
When asked Friday whether he plans to seek the permanent job as police chief, Bales said he has not ruled it out.
“Right now I’m focused on the transition. When that bridge comes, I’m going to cross it for sure,” Bales said. “But right now I just want to lead the department every day and deliver our best service to the city of Sacramento.“
The Bee’s Ishani Desai contributed to this story.
This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Sacramento’s interim police chief sworn in and takes reins of Police Department."
