About Chief Conner

Chief Conner started his career in law enforcement in 1982 as a patrol officer with the City of Stanton, California.  While there, he served as a field training officer, detective, recruiting officer, and explorer advisor and gained a good foundation for his future police career.  In 1984, he moved to Cathedral City to accept a position as police sergeant, and to enjoy the opportunity of being one of the original members of the newly formed Cathedral City Police Department.  In this role, he was a watch commander and rotating shift supervisor for all field and station activities which later led to his being selected to be a police lieutenant in 1989.  As a lieutenant, he supervised patrol, detectives, and special enforcement detail personnel, served as department public information officer, assisted in development of department goals, and responded to critical calls and investigations. 

In 1995, his distinguished work as a lieutenant earned him a promotion to police captain.  In this capacity, he assisted with implementing organizational goals in the community, developing and implementing a community based policing program, initiating efforts to obtain new technology to keep current with contemporary police standards, successfully gaining considerable grant funding, and participating in establishing short and long range strategic organizational planning efforts.  As second in command of the Police Department and acting Chief in the Chief’s absence, he was in a unique position to assist in leading and managing the police department personnel and resources, so that even though having limited resources, Cathedral City has experienced crime rates that are among the lowest in the Coachella Valley.

Chief Conner attended Golden West Community College in Huntington Beach earning an Associate degree in Criminal Justice in 1976 and in 1982 completed his Police Officer Academy Certification, finishing 2nd overall in his class.  He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration Management from the University of Redlands in 1989 and then in 1996 earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University in Orange California.  Significantly, he is also a graduate of the United States Department of Justice, FBI National Academy, provided by the University of Virginia at Quantico Bay, Virginia, in a four month full time residency program for which he earned a Certificate of Achievement in 2000.

Chief Conner has also earned numerous other certificates that have helped to prepare him for this new assignment, some of which include: Executive and Advanced Management Programs from the University of California at Riverside – A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management; the West Point Leadership Program from the City of

Los Angeles Police Department; the Southwest Command College; and from Leadership Coachella Valley for his role as a participating faculty member.

In addition, in recognition of his professional abilities, he has been elected by his peers to serve in a leadership role in the County wide Riverside County Law Enforcement Administrators Association, serving as a secretary in 2009/10, Vice President in 2011 and President for 2012.

He is very active in his church and in several other community activities including serving as: a USO Host Volunteer at the Palms Spring Airport; a Board Member of the Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce;  a Member of the Coachella Valley Latino Police Officers Association; a member of the adjunct faculty of the College of the Desert teaching courses in Administration of Justice, Multi Cultural issues in Law Enforcement, Professionalism and Ethics, Leadership, Cultural Diversity, Sexual Harassment, Racial Profiling and various other law enforcement disciplines.

He has also been recognized through receipt of awards that include: Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce “Man of the Year”, Cathedral City Police Chief Awards, Cathedral City Mayor’s Award, an “Outstanding Contribution and Leadership Award” from the College of the Desert Public Safety Academy, Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year from Palm Springs Jaycees, Outstanding Service Award from the American Legion and a Certificate of Leadership Award from National University.

These activities and recognitions have made him well known and respected both professionally and personally by organizations and residents in Cathedral City, the Coachella Valley, and the Riverside County area.

Chief Conner and his wife have two adult children and one grandchild and have made their home in the Cathedral City area since 1984.