Contact: Iris Espino, PIO

(626) 430-2206

iespino@irwindaleca.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY APPOINTS INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE ROBERT M. CASTRO

(Irwindale, CA, July 14, 2022) – At last night’s public meeting, the Irwindale City Council appointed Robert M. Castro as Interim Chief of Police. Interim Chief Castro has more than 37 years of progressively responsible California law enforcement experience. 

Interim Chief Castro began his law enforcement career in 1985 with the Glendora Police Department. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1995 and to the rank of Lieutenant in 1999.  In 2004, he was promoted to Captain managing the daily operations and budget for the entire department.  In January 2011, Chief Castro was promoted to Chief of Police for the Glendora Police Department.

On December 16, 2013, Chief Castro was sworn in as Chief of Police for the Glendale Police Department, the third largest police department in Los Angeles County commanding a department of 500 personnel. He created the only independent municipal police crime lab and provided crime lab services to police agencies throughout California.   Interim Chief Castro developed an Emergency Medical Technician program in Glendale with 40 EMT police officers, two paramedic police officers, and two hundred officers trained as Field Tactical Medics, the first of its kind in Los Angeles County.  This program saved hundreds of lives, as police officers were the on-scene first in many dangerous situations.   

Interim Chief Castro was selected as the department Officer of the Year in 1991 and 2000, an honor that is never awarded twice. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Azusa Pacific University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Business Management and earned a Master’s Degree in Business Management from APU in 2005.  He is also a graduate of the West Point Military Academy Law Enforcement Leadership Program and a graduate of California POST Command College where he was selected by his peers as the class speaker for their graduation commencement. Chief Castro worked on numerous assignments during his 35-year career including four years as a narcotics detective with three years working undercover apprehending major narcotics cartels.  

Interim Chief Castro and his wife have been married for 32 years and have two adult sons who are an Irvine Police Department and a Missoula Montana police officer. 

We welcome Interim Chief Castro to the Irwindale Community. 

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