Salinas, CA -- Police and City leaders and staff will mark the end of Chief Kelly McMillin's distinguished career with the Salinas Police Department this Friday, Sept. 30, with a Last Briefing in the City Hall Rotunda at 7:30 a.m.
Kelly McMillin began his law enforcement career in 1984 as a Deputy with the San Benito County Sheriff's Department. In 1986 he transferred to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, then joined the Salinas Police Department in 1988. As a Salinas Police Officer, Kelly has worked patrol, several gang units, vice/narcotics, administration and various assignments as a detective including homicide. He was a SWAT operator, team leader and tactical commander.
Kelly has held the ranks of Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Commander and Deputy Chief. He was appointed Chief of the Salinas Police Department on June 11, 2012, and was the first Chief to be promoted from within the ranks since 1965.
Since becoming a police officer, Kelly has earned his Associate's Degree from Hartnell College, his BA from Saint Mary's College of California and his Master of Public Policy from the Panetta Institute at California State University Monterey Bay. He is a 2003 graduate of the 213th session of the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia.
Kelly has earned national recognition for his innovative work in youth violence prevention. That work is based not only on law enforcement, but on building the health of the community in partnership with residents, government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and faith leaders. For his leadership in this area, including with the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace, Kelly was recognized in 2012 as a White House Champion of Change.
Kelly is married to Teresa Brewer McMillin, a Physician Assistant who owns a cosmetic dermatology practice in Salinas. Their son Liam is a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
