Culver City Observer -

The City Council has officially appointed Manuel Cid as the 26th Police Chief of the Culver City Police Department.

At its Monday meeting, the Council voted 4-0 – with Vice Mayor Daniel Lee abstaining – to promote Cid who has been serving as the Interim Police Chief since June 2020, following the departure of former Police Chief Scott Bixby.

Chief Cid, a first-generation Cuban-American who grew up in the Long Beach and Downey area, brings a "highly professional and forward-thinking approach" to leading a full-service Police Department comprised of 160 staff members, city officials said.

Prior to his career in law enforcement, Cid was a college student-athlete, competing in football and baseball. In 2005, Cid was hired by the Culver City Police Department (CCPD) and attended the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy. Upon completion of the police academy, he spent a few years working patrol before being assigned to the Investigations Bureau, where he became a member of the its Crime Impact Team and later represented CCPD at the Cal-MMET major narcotics taskforce, police officials said in a press release.

In 2012, Cid was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He supervised the Gang Intelligence Unit, K-9 program, and the Field Training Program, before being assigned to command Group 1 of the LA IMPACT major narcotics taskforce, responsible for investigating large scale narcotics trafficking and money laundering organizations throughout the Southern California region.

In 2015, Cid was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served as a Watch Commander and afterward the Administrative Lieutenant and Executive Officer working out of the Chief of Police's Office. He promoted to the rank of Captain in 2018 and had the opportunity to lead the Operations Bureau initially, and later the Administrations Bureau, CCPD said.

Cid earned his Bachelor's Degree in political science from Whittier College and a Master's Degree in public administration from National University. He is also a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, the Los Angeles Police Department's West Point Leadership Program, and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

He serves as an Executive Board member for the LA IMPACT Taskforce and as a member on the LA County Committee on Alternatives to Crisis Response. Chief Cid is also a member of the California Police Chief's Association, LA County Police Chief's Association, and the FBI's National Academy Associates.

During his career, Chief Cid has been the recipient of several department awards, including the Sustained Superiority Award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the "David Shaby" Career Achievement Award, CCPD said.