A familiar face in a South Coast police department has been named to temporarily head the agency while the search continues for a new chief.
Commander Marylinda Arroyo is the Santa Barbara Police Department's new interim chief. Arroyo has been a peace officer for nearly three decades. She currently commands the field operations division, which includes everything from patrol and special enforcement to the SWAT team.
Arroyo is also the first woman in the department to serve as a lieutenant, captain, and commander.
Santa Barbara Police Chief Lori Luhnow retired in 2021, and Barney Melekian served as interim chief until his retirement this month. A search is underway for a permanent replacement.
