The Morro Bay Police Department in Transition

by Richard Hannibal

The Morro Bay Police Department is in transition. We have come off the six year leadership of Police Chief John DeRohan. During that time, and with the help of then Commander Tim Olivas, this department has made great strides in technology, equipment, and training. We have endured adversity in the form of budgetary constraints, loss of personnel, and job uncertainty. Because of an increased workload and in order to maintain your sacred trust, some of us have sacrificed moments in our personal lives and our health. And yet, morale has remained high, and we have prevailed.

Now we are entering a new stage of our evolution. Tim Olivas has taken the reins as Chief of Police and Sergeant Bryan Millard is our next Commander. Due to budgetary constraints, we have lost Hank Roth, our Crime Prevention Coordinator. And we have lost Officer Curtis Mooneyhan, who left for a job with another agency. With the recent promotions, there are now openings for a sergeant, a corporal, one officer, and another officer to replace Officer Mooneyhan.

Morro Bay suffers with the rest of the nation as budgetary cuts continue. These are trying times and the future will be challenging. As most of us know, challenge is the seed of life's fulfillment, growth, and purpose. Without this stimulation, we as a society would stagnate and decay. So the Morro Bay Police family is very optimistic about the future, our challenges, and our new leadership. We enter this next phase of our evolution with renewed vigor and continued dedication to our sacred trust of serving and protecting the citizens and visitors of Morro Bay.

Introducing Police Chief Tim Olivas

Following the retirement of Chief John DeRohan, Tim Olivas, our Police Commander for the last six years, became the new Morro Bay Chief of Police on April 24, 2010. The swearing-in ceremony was at the City Council meeting on April 26, 2010. This was a seamless transfer of leadership with no disruption of service.

Tim Olivas began his law enforcement career as a Level III law enforcement officer, working for the U.S. Forest Service. About this time he did a six-month internship with the Department of Fish and Game as a fish sampler along the Mendocino coastline.

Tim earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Cal Poly University and paid to put himself through the Allan Hancock College Police Academy. His goal at that time was to get a job with the Department of Fish and Game as a warden. While attending the police academy, Tim met a Morro Bay Police Sergeant / Instructor who encouraged him to apply for a vacant officer position at the Morro Bay Police Department. Tim tested for the vacancy and was offered the position. Tim was able to graduate from the academy wearing a Morro Bay Police uniform.

Tim had worked as a Morro Bay Police Officer for about three years when he took a position as a Game Warden with the California Department of Fish and Game. Here he was required to go through a second police academy in Napa, California.

Tim had several assignments with the Department of Fish and Game. These included being stationed at San Diego Harbor on a 48-foot patrol boat, where he worked for the next seven years. He was then promoted to Lieutenant, which required him and his family to move to the Long Beach area. Tim was stationed there for about ten months and then transferred to Monterey County where he supervised the marine region from San Luis Obispo County to San Francisco. Four years later, Tim was promoted to Captain and his area of responsibility grew along the California Coast all the way to the Oregon border.

One day Tim overheard someone talking about the Commander position opening up at the Morro Bay Police Department. The San Luis Obispo area is a special place for Tim's family and they always dreamed of one day returning there. Tim researched the position further and, after visiting, felt he would be a good fit for the Morro Bay PD. Tim felt this was an opportunity that he could not pass up. He tested for the position and was selected for the position of Commander. For the next six years, Tim worked closely with Chief John DeRohan in a rapid evolution of the department, its goals, and its services.

Tim lives nearby with his family. He is very active in outdoor sports, including hunting, fishing, shooting events, kayaking, and bicycling. Tim belongs to various professional organizations, including Rotary. He is a board member of Crime Stoppers, and is actively involved with his faith.

Sergeant Bryan Millard is Promoted to Morro Bay Police Commander

Morro Bay Police Sergeant Bryan Millard has been chosen to be the next Commander with the Morro Bay Police Department. The Commander is the second-in-command of the Police Department. The position is a critical component of the Department's management team and involves overseeing day-to-day operations. 

Bryan Millard excelled in the application and testing process and exhibited proven qualities that made him the best choice for the Commander position. Bryan started his career with the Morro Bay Police Department in 2000. He has held numerous ancillary assignments during his time with the Department. Some of the assignments have included, Field Training Officer Program Coordinator, Major Traffic Collision Investigator, Bicycle Patrol Officer, Explorer Advisor, Ancillary Assignments Coordinator, Regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team Crisis Negotiator, and Shift Scheduling Coordinator. Bryan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Santa Barbara and he is currently working on his Master's degree in Public Administration with California State University, Dominguez Hills. Bryan is a recent graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and currently teaches part-time at the Allan Hancock Police Academy.

Chief Olivas stated, "I have been very proud of Bryan's work within the Police Department and his outreach to the community of Morro Bay. Bryan's dedication to his profession and the community of Morro Bay is inspiring and his enthusiasm is contagious. I am confident that Bryan will continue to excel in his new assignment as Commander and further prove that he was the best choice for the position."

The Testing Procedure for the Commander Position 

In order to ensure the best candidate was chosen for the Police Department and the Morro Bay Community, the testing process was open to all qualified candidates in the law enforcement profession. The application process included the candidate's answering 11 management questions about their leadership style; self initiated achievements, positive changes they have implemented, and their community outreach.  

There were a total of 15 candidates who applied for this important position. After a thorough review of the applications, the top seven candidates were invited to participate in an oral board process. The candidates were scheduled for three different oral panels on the same day. The first oral panel was a professional panel consisting of Police Chiefs and high ranking Military personnel. The second panel was an internal panel consisting of Morro Bay Police Department personnel, and the third panel was a community panel consisting of community business members and residents. Three of the candidates successfully navigated the oral board process and were invited to a Police Chief's interview. All three of the final candidates had strong leadership skills and positive qualities that will enhance their lives and the law enforcement community.