Carlsbad Police Chief Mickey Williams plans to retire in mid-April, and his second-in-command has been picked by the city manager to succeed him.
Williams has overseen the 187-employee department since 2021. He has worked for the Carlsbad Police Department for 29 years.
Officials said he will be replaced by Assistant Chief Christie Calderwood, who has been in the No. 2 post for two years. She has worked in the department for 17 years and is married to the city’s fire chief.
“Chief Williams has led the Carlsbad Police Department into the era of modern law enforcement,” Carlsbad City Manager Scott Chadwick said in a statement. “By prioritizing trust, transparency and the responsible use of technology, Chief Williams has created a culture in the department focused on continuous improvement and an exceptional level of service.”
The appointment was made by Chadwick, who said in a memo distributed to city managers and council members that one of the department’s strengths is its thoughtful approach to succession planning.
While Carlsbad looked in-house for its replacement, other police agencies have engaged in national searches when replacing their top cops — looking at both internal and external candidates.
For example, the city of San Diego is currently searching for a replacement for Chief David Nisleit, who plans to retire in June. San Diego is paying consultant Bob Murray & Associates up to $250,000 to handle the recruitment, according to the city’s contract with the firm.
Carlsbad hasn’t always tapped chiefs from within its ranks.
In 2010, when former Chief Gary Morrison was hired, he was one of 123 applicants. He was working for the Long Beach Police Department at the time and replaced Tom Zoll, who was police chief for six years.
The next two police chiefs came from inside the department — Morrison was replaced by Neil Gallucci, and Gallucci was replaced by Williams. Calderwood will be the third.
Williams was credited with leading his city’s response to the Black Lives Matter demonstrations and working with community members on civilian oversight and homelessness, according to the city’s press release. He also worked with others crafting a de-escalation policy that has been adopted countywide.
Williams holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Diego State University and earned a law degree from Northwestern California University School of Law, an online school. He is a licensed member of the bar, according to a biography posted by the University of San Diego, where he has taught law enforcement leadership courses online.
During her career, Calderwood has worked in investigations, patrol and administration and is credited with developing and supervising the department’s crime suppression team in 2016, which pairs data analytics with on-the-ground intelligence to highlight where resources should be assigned.
Calderwood is a longtime Carlsbad resident and graduate of La Costa Canyon High School.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Calderwood earned a bachelor’s degree in literature and writing from Cal State San Marcos and a master’s degree in administration with an emphasis in leadership from Central Michigan University.
“I am deeply honored to take on this new role, serving as police chief in the community where I grew up and where I first found my calling to serve,” she said in a statement.
She has completed several certifications in law enforcement, including graduating from the Sherman Block Leadership Institute and completing the Command College program offered by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
She also completed the FBI National Academy in 2019.
She is currently president of the California Peace Officers’ Association, city officials said.
Calderwood is married to Carlsbad Fire Chief Michael Calderwood and has two children.
According to the press release, she will be sworn in at the April 9 City Council meeting and officially assume her new role at midnight April 15.
