Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista announced his resignation Friday, citing philosophical differences with the “new administration” after nearly four years leading the department.
Batista, the 18th police chief in the city's 127-year history, will step down Oct. 4. Deputy Chief Darrick Jacob has been named acting chief to facilitate the transition.
In his resignation letter to new City Manager Oliver Chi, Batista said his nearly 40 years of experience in public safety and policing and deeply held sense of justice appear to be at odds from demands set by the new administration.
"In that light, the right path is to transition leadership here, as I look forward with purpose, conviction, and optimism to my next challenge," Batista wrote.
That paragraph was omitted from the letter released to the public announcing his resignation and no clarification has been given as to why the two letters differ.
“I am grateful to Chief Batista for his service to Santa Monica and commend him for his many contributions,” City Manager Chi said. “His dedication, kindness and vision have shaped our Police Department in positive ways, and on behalf of the entire organization, we honor and thank him for his service.”
The chief cited numerous accomplishments during his tenure, including rebuilding department staffing from a critical low of 177 working officers in October 2021 to 231 sworn officers out of 233 authorized positions by 2024. The department hired 73 new officers in 2024, with 25% being women, increasing overall female representation to 15%.
Batista oversaw the implementation of recommendations from the Office of Independent Review following events in 2020, launched a new computer-aided dispatch and records management system, and secured a $6 million grant to establish the city's first Real-Time Crime and Information Center.
Under his leadership, the department responded to more than 128,000 calls for service in 2024 while making over 50,000 proactive contacts. Officers made more than 2,800 arrests and achieved a 2% reduction in Part 1 Crime.
The chief reinstated the Crime Impact Team to address quality-of-life issues and expanded the Homeless Liaison Team to operate seven days a week for the first time in department history. He also created the Directed Action Response Team (DART) to address concerns about fire safety, crime and disorder on Santa Monica Pier.
"What started as a targeted response has grown into one of our most successful deployments, with DART now serving as a model of excellence across the Pier, beach, Palisades Park, and downtown," Batista wrote.
The department deployed mobile security cameras throughout parks and downtown areas and implemented a Drone as a First Responder program. Officers also protected the community during recent Palisades fires and managed numerous public protests, including "highly charged demonstrations."
Mayor Lana Negrete praised Batista's service in a statement.
"I am so thankful for Chief Batista's service to Santa Monica these past four years, and on behalf of the entire City, I want to commend him for his many contributions to making our community a safer place," Negrete said. "Among his many accomplishments, Chief Batista oversaw an expansion of Santa Monica's police department operation, positively positioned the City in regional efforts to combat retail theft, and facilitated the development of the Santa Monica Analytical Real-Time Center."
Batista began his law enforcement career in 1986 with the Tucson Police Department, working his way through operational ranks in patrol during his first decade. He served in various supervisory roles including traffic supervisor, public information office, detectives, patrol captain and SWAT commander before becoming chief of staff and investigations bureau chief.
In 2017, Batista was appointed police chief in Mesa, Arizona, leading a department of over 1,200 members serving a population of 535,000. He was recognized for strengthening police-community bonds and promoting transparency and trust.
Batista holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety/Homeland Security and Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. He attended the FBI National Academy and other prestigious law enforcement training programs.
He was sworn in as Santa Monica's police chief on Oct. 18, 2021, becoming the only appointed Latino police chief in the city's history.
Chi praised Jacob in his role as acting Chief.
“‘DJ’ has served the department with distinction for over 20 years and, most recently, his responsibilities as deputy chief of police have involved overseeing the day-to-day operations of the SMPD,” he said. “With his knowledge of our department, combined with his leadership philosophy and approach, I am supremely confident that our staff, the Police Department, and the entire community will be well served by Acting Chief Jacob.”
Negrete expressed confidence in the transition plan, noting that Jacob "has served Santa Monica with distinction since 2004" and recently oversaw day-to-day police operations.
According to city officials, Jacob has been with the Santa Monica Police Department since 2004, having previously served with the Northridge Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He has been deputy chief since 2020, and is also a veteran of the United States Navy. Acting Chief Jacob holds a bachelor’s degree in health science and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Northridge.
Batista’s resignation is the third departure of a senior staff member since Chi’s hiring following Heather Averick departure as head of housing and human services and Doug Sloan’s resignation from the City Attorney position.