Santa Barbara Police Department

During yesterday’s recognition, swearing-in, and promotional ceremony at the Discovery Pavilion, the Santa Barbara Police Department had the privilege of honoring five officers who advanced into new leadership roles and were presented with their promotional badges.

Congratulations to Sergeant Edward Kasper, Sergeant Kyle Rapp, Lieutenant Ethan Ragsdale, Commander Nathan Beltran, and Assistant Chief Chris Payne on their well-earned promotions.

Your leadership, dedication, and continued service to SBPD reflect a strong commitment to the department and the community.

Please join us in congratulating them as they begin this next chapter of service and leadership with SBPD.

During yesterday’s recognition, swearing-in, and promotional ceremony, the Santa Barbara Police Department proudly welcomed three newly sworn officers and two new professional staff members to our department.

Please join us in welcoming Officer Day, who joins SBPD as a lateral officer, alongside Officer Barretto and Officer Cervantes, graduates of Allan Hancock Police Academy Class 131.

We are also pleased to welcome Parking Enforcement Officer Martinez and Animal Control Officer Montes De Oca, who bring valuable experience and support to both our department and to the community we serve.

We are proud to officially welcome each of you to the SBPD team, and we look forward to the commitment, professionalism, and service you will bring to the Santa Barbara community.

Three dogs. Three different jobs. One exceptional team supporting them all.

Recently, K9 Wolke, K9 Roz, and K9 Cota visited for veterinary care generously provided through the support of . We’re grateful to SB Humane and One805 for helping ensure our four-legged partners stay healthy, happy, and ready for duty.

Today, we were honored to host the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Southern California during its final leg through South Santa Barbara County.

SBPD was proud to run alongside our athletes and partner agencies as we carried the Flame of Hope through Santa Barbara in support of inclusion, unity, and the Special Olympics mission.

We want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who joined us at front of our station for the Law Enforcement Torch Run Ceremony, as participants paused their run to be recognized by our community and to hear remarks from our Chief of Police Kelly Gordon, who highlighted the importance of supporting Special Olympics athletes and the impact of this long-standing tradition.

We are grateful to our community, partner agencies, and all participants who helped make today’s event a meaningful moment in this year’s run.

Thank you to everyone who joined us today for Coffee with a Cop at the Eastside Library! We had a great time speaking with our community members and truly appreciate everyone who stopped by to spend the morning with us. We are especially grateful to the Eastside Library for hosting us and helping facilitate this chance to connect with our community.

A special thank you to the organizations and partners who joined us today and shared the many different ways they support mental health throughout Santa Barbara. Your work makes a meaningful impact in our community, and we are grateful for your collaboration and presence 💚

Thank you to Hope 4 Kids Early Learning Center for inviting us to your campus! We enjoyed visiting with students and sharing about the role of police officers in our community. It's always great to connect with young learners and be part of these early educational moments. 🚓