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Zachary Bales talks about his future plans after he was sworn in as the interim police chief for the Sacramento Police Department on Friday.<\/p>\n
HECTOR AMEZCUA<\/p>\n
hamezcua@sacbee.com<\/p>\n
Interim Sacramento Police Chief Zachary Bales<\/a> said he never expected to lead the department where he has served in a variety of roles over the past 24 years.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI was not planning on ascending to this position,\u201d Bales told The Sacramento Bee. \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, who is retiring after more than three decades in law enforcement.<\/p>\n Most recently, Bales served as deputy chief of the Office of Investigations<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI have worked in every major division in the department with a variety of different assignments, operational, investigative and administrative,\u201d Bales said Friday in an interview shortly after his swearing-in ceremony. \u201cI\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The department has seen sharp declines in crime in Sacramento<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now I\u2019m charged with just leading the department during this time of transition,\u201d Bales said. \u201cThat really means building on the successes that we\u2019ve already endured this year. We\u2019re going to continue to combat violent crime. We\u2019re going to continue to innovate and push our technology initiatives forward. I think while there is a transition in leadership, there\u2019s continuity of mission.\u201d<\/p>\n Sacramento is facing a $66 million budget deficit<\/a> 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<\/a> for the third consecutive year.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. Last year, the agency paid more than $15 million in overtime.<\/p>\n Bales said the city\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThat said, we will accomplish the mission with what we have,\u201d Bales said. \u201cThe elected officials and the city manager have to decide exactly what amount of money that they\u2019re able to dedicate, that way we make best use of every one of those dollars and keep people safe.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars program to support diverse candidates pursuing careers in policing.<\/p>\n 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 \u201can ambassador\u201d in him at the Police Department.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s probably one of the biggest pieces of advice that she\u2019s given me,\u201d Bales said about Lester. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n His job is temporary, however. The Sacramento City Council and the city manager will launch a search to hire a permanent replacement for Lester.<\/p>\n When asked Friday whether he plans to seek the permanent job as police chief, Bales said he has not ruled it out.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now I\u2019m focused on the transition. When that bridge comes, I\u2019m going to cross it for sure,\u201d Bales said. \u201cBut right now I just want to lead the department every day and deliver our best service to the city of Sacramento.\u201c<\/p>\n The Bee\u2019s Ishani Desai contributed to this story.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n![\"Retiring](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SAC_3898_PeaceOfficersEnrollment_HA_260504.JPG\" "\\"SAC_3898_PeaceOfficersEnrollment_HA_260504.JPG\\"")
Retiring Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester, right, marches with her interim replacement Zachary Bales to the annual California Peace Officers\u2019 Memorial enrollment ceremony in Sacramento on May 4. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com <\/p>\n
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