New Commanding Officer Named For Half Moon Bay, Coastside Bureau

From San Mateo County Sheriff's Office: The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the City of Half Moon Bay, has appointed Captain Saul Lopez as the new commanding officer for the Half Moon Bay / Coastside Patrol Bureau. He will replace newly-appointed Assistant Sheriff John Munsey, who has led Coastside operations since 2014 and will now oversee the Sheriff's Corrections Division. Captain Lopez is transitioning into the position this moth, and will assume full command in his new assignment in early June. He'll be introduced and welcomed to the community in an upcoming Half Moon Bay City Council meeting.

Captain Lopez was raised on the Peninsula, attended school in San Mateo, and has a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice. His current assignment is Commander of the San Mateo County Narcotics and Vehicle Theft Task Force. Captain Lopez was previously assigned to the Coastside as a Sheriff’s Sergeant from 2012-2014, and in 2013 was awarded the Medal of Valor for his part in rescuing occupants of a residential structure fire on the Coastside.

“I’m honored and pleased to return to Half Moon Bay and the coastside, and I look forward to working closely with the City and the community,” said Captain Lopez. “My goals are to uphold our commitment to the highest standards of law enforcement, and work to assure a positive, ongoing relationship between law enforcement and community members on the coastside.”

Captain Lopez began his law enforcement career in 1995 with the San Bruno Police Department and joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2004. He is bilingual in English/Spanish, and comes to the Coastside with a great deal of experience, having worked a variety of assignments including patrol, investigation, narcotics, and street crimes.

Since mid-2011, the City of Half Moon Bay has contracted with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement services to the city. The Sheriff’s Office maintains a substation at the City’s Emergency Operations Center, 537 Kelly Avenue.

Photo courtesy of San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office