McCann Appoints Bernal to Police Chief

Mill Valley City Manager Jim McCann has appointed Angel Bernal to police chief, removing the "interim" tag from his title nearly a year after he got the job following the retirement of the head of the city's fire and police departments.

"Angel is a very thoughtful law enforcement professional and a compassionate individual who will define the vision for the future of the department," McCann said.

Bernal will oversee the operations of the department, which includes crime abatement, traffic enforcement, emergency preparedness, investigations, parking enforcement, and community outreach.

Bernal, a 23-year veteran of the department, said that he is looking forward to making changes in the department that will benefit the community.

"I'm looking forward to the new challenges and opportunities ahead and feel blessed by the talented staff we have and support received from the community," he said. 

Bernal, who lives in Pacifica with his wife and children, has served in an array of capacities in his career in Mill Valley, ascending from DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor to sergeant to captain.

His appointment is part of a management reorganization of the city's police and fire departments. Before his retirement in November 2009, Robert Ritter had overseen both departments for 12 years. Previous city manager Anne Montgomery sought to reorganize the departments to allow for more direct supervision, and the City Council approved the plan the same month.

Greg Moore, then the battalion chief for the fire department, was also promoted to interim fire chief in November 2009. Bernal and Moore received salary bumps of 5 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively, to earn annual salaries of $140,148 in their interim positions. Ritter earned an annual salary of $167,352.