Concord Names New Chief Of Police

CONCORD, CA — There's a new top cop in town and his name is Mark Bustillos. On Tuesday, Concord City Manager Valerie Barone announced she has hired Bustillos to replace Concord police Chief Guy Swanger, who is retiring.

"Right now the men and women of the Concord Police Department are doing an outstanding jobwhile working in very difficult circumstances, and I intend to step in and continue the leadership that Chief Swanger has shown," Bustillos said. "I am looking forward to getting to know the community and working with the men and women of the Department in building community relationships. We will get through the COVID-19 health crisis, and continue our mission to keep the community safe while delivering a high level of customer service."

Bustillos is set to be sworn in at 8 a.m. April 6; the community is invited to watch the ceremony on the city's Facebook page, through Concord TV or on the city's website.

Bustillos comes to Concord after a 27-year career with the San Jose Police Department, where he most recently served as Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Administration. Bustillos has experience in all aspects of running a department, including patrol, investigations and administration.

"Mark is a proactive and creative problem solver with extensive community policing experience and strong leadership skills," Barone said. "I am confident that his positive, inclusive management style will serve the department and our Concord community well."

As deputy chief for SJPD, Bustillos managed a team of 420 employees — sworn and civilian.

The Concord Police Department, which has 154 sworn personnel and 57 civilian staff, is organized into three divisions: Field Operations, Investigations and Administration.

The city's police department also oversees Dispatch — including for the neighboring community of Clayton — Emergency Preparedness for the city, a Volunteers in Police Service program with over 100 members, city Code Enforcement and a jail.

In the city's search for its next chief of police, residents and merchants were invited to take a community survey about what they sought, according to Jennifer Ortega, community relations manager for the city.

Ortega said more than 350 people responded, and said their top two desired traits were: Knowledge of and experience with policing best practices for solving problems and enhancing public safety; and, Ability to integrate and build relationships throughout the whole Concord community, becoming an active member of the community.

"The input from this survey helped guide the recruitment and selection process," Ortega said.

About Concord's next police chief, Mark Bustillos

Bustillos was born and raised in San Jose, where he attended public high school.

Bustillos went on to earn a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University and a master's degree in public policy from Claremont Graduate School. He also graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police through the Police Executive Research Forum.

When he first joined the SJPD in 1992, he said it was because he wanted to "give back to the community that was his home."

After working in Patrol, Narcotics Enforcement, Mobile Emergency and Response (SWAT) and the Field Training Unit, he was promoted in 2002 to the rank of sergeant. He serving as a patrol sergeant and later in the Office of the Chief-Internal Affairs and the Special Investigations Unit.

In 2008, Bustillos was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and assigned to positions as the watch commander in the Southern, Western and Central Divisions.

In 2011, Bustillos was promoted to the rank of captain and served as the Division Commander in the Foothill and Western Divisions prior to being assigned to oversee the Bureau of Investigations.

He was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2016 and assigned to the Bureau of Administration where he oversaw the hiring of 300 recruits as well as the Police Academy, Records and Communications division.

Bustillos and his wife, Carrie, have been married for 26 years. The couple has two sons: one who works as an engineer in the aerospace field, the other is finishing his junior year in college.

Bustillos enjoys traveling, fishing and following Stanford sports. In his spare time he likes to umpire baseball and assist nonprofits with getting first generation children to college.

According to the city's news release about Bustillos:

"As a leader, Mark believes strongly in collaboration and inclusiveness, both internally and externally, and the essential role this plays in building organizational and community confidence in the services performed by the men and women of the police department. He is excited at the opportunity to lead the men and women of the Concord Police Department. Though times are unsettling, he believes the Concord Police Department has the strength and fortitude to handle all that will be thrown at it."