After more than a year of rotating leadership, Gilroy finally has a new top cop lined up. Brandon Sanchez is set to become the city’s next police chief on June 1, wrapping up an extended hunt that began after the previous chief retired. Sanchez is leaving his role as a deputy chief with the San Jose Police Department to take the helm in his hometown.
In a press release from the City of Gilroy, officials described Sanchez as a second-generation officer with more than 26 years of law enforcement experience and confirmed his June 1 start date. Sanchez said, "I am honored to serve the place I call home," and promised to back his officers while tightening bonds between the department and the community.
Sanchez's experience
Before Gilroy made the hire, Sanchez served as Deputy Chief of Field Operations for the San Jose Police Department, overseeing patrol and day-to-day field work, according to the San Jose Police Department. Over his career, he has held assignments in criminal intelligence, internal affairs, and SWAT. He has also been a public face for the department, including briefings on trends like a rise in keyless car thefts, as reported by NBC Bay Area.
Search and selection
The choice of Sanchez follows a lengthy recruitment process that started after former Chief Pedro Espinosa retired in May 2025. The search included multiple panel interviews with community members, school leaders and neighboring police chiefs, according to the Gilroy Dispatch. The Dispatch also notes that several interim and acting chiefs cycled through the department’s top job while the city worked to land a permanent leader.
What he says he'll do
As outlined by the City of Gilroy, Mayor Greg Bozzo said Sanchez combines effective strategies with strong partnerships and called him a community leader. City officials said Sanchez’s stated priorities, including community collaboration and problem-oriented policing, are expected to guide the department as it stabilizes after the prolonged recruitment period.
Sanchez is scheduled to take the reins on June 1, and will begin meeting with department leaders and local stakeholders in the coming weeks. His appointment closes the city’s chief search and sets up a renewed focus on neighborhood outreach and support for officers.
