The Vacaville Police Department logo, serving Vacaville, California. (Vacaville Police Department via Bay City News)

Vacaville Police Capt. Ian Schmutzler has been appointed as the city’s next police chief, city officials announced.

Vacaville Police Capt. Ian Schmutzler will become chief of the city’s police department Jan. 7. (Photo courtesy of city of Vacaville via Bay City News)

Schmutzler, who earlier in 2021 served as chief briefly after the retirement of former Chief John Carli and before the appointment of interim Chief Joe Allio, has been with the Vacaville Police Department for nearly 22 years after beginning his career with Oakland police for three years.

Following a recruitment process, City Manager Aaron Busch made the selection of Schmutzler, who is expected to be sworn in on Jan. 7.

“Chief Schmutzler possesses an in-depth familiarity of the Vacaville Police Department with a vision for new enhancements,” Busch said in a statement.

“I acknowledge the depth of work ahead as the expectations of policing continues to evolve in our community and across the nation,” Schmutzler said. “I recognize the opportunity afforded to me to advance the department, improve trust and instill confidence in the services we provide.”

The swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 7 will have limited in-person attendance due to COVID-19 but will be streamed online.

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.