A Conversation with National Media Representatives

After spending nearly three decades in local law enforcement, Cynthia Renaud retired as Chief of Police from the Santa Monica Police Department in October 2020.  Prior to this agency, she served as chief of the Folsom Police Department in Sacramento county for seven years, and prior to that, the Long Beach Police Department in Los Angeles County for twenty years, leaving that agency at the rank of commander.  She is currently the president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders with over 31,000 members across 165 countries worldwide. 

Chief Renaud spent many years working uniformed patrol assignments and special investigations positions. Along with serving as chief in two agencies, her supervisory positions included Internal Affairs, the Field Training Program, Academy Director, Patrol Watch Commander, Communications Division Commander, Patrol Division Commander, and Investigations Division Commander. 

Chief Renaud is a native of Long Beach. She attended California State University, Long Beach, where she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature in 1996 and a Master’s Degree in English Literature in 2000.  In 2010, she completed a second Master’s Degree in National Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.  Chief Renaud received the Outstanding Thesis Award for her thesis submissions in both graduate programs.