Westminster Tabs New Police Chief

Mitch Waller goes from captain to chief at Westminster Police Department.

​Westminster Police Captain Mitch Waller will be promoted to police chief with the retirement of Andrew Hall, City Manager Don Lamm and the Westminster City Council announced.


Waller, who joined the force in May 1984, previously served as acting police chief while Hall assumed the interim city manager position in 2005.

A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, Waller got his bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology with a minor in Economics from the University of San Diego. He also earned a juris doctor from Chapman University Law School in Orange and is now a member of the State Bar of California.

Waller's assignments at Westminster Police Department have included chief's adjutant, SWAT commander, traffic sergeant, patrol operations lieutenant and detective commander. He was promoted to captain in November 2002. 

Hall, who is retiring after nearly 30 years of service with Westminster Police Department, says in a city-issued statement, "Captain Waller has been indispensible to me throughout his career. His leadership helped shape this department's culture, performance and reputation. He is well respected by employees, the community and the council. He is an excellent choice for the position."

Waller is scheduled to take the oath of office Jan. 4, 2010. Hall is to pin the chief's badge on Waller at the Jan. 11, 2010, City Council meeting.