Outgoing Chief of Police, Bruce Macedo

Captain Bruce Macedo, born in Merced, California in 1959, grew up on a three-hundred acre dairy farm in the tiny town of Snelling, home to a drug store, Catholic Church and a school. He is the youngest son and middle child of six, receiving his elementary education in a multiple grade classroom at the local rural public school, after milking cows every morning. His parents moved their family briefly to Hanford, then to Chowchilla when he was twelve years old, and ultimately sold the dairy farm just prior to their youngest son’s high-school graduation. Somehow, even as a young child of San Joquin Valley’s rural towns, tucked amongst picturesque rolling hills and tranquil miles of farmlands dotted with cows and cattle, Bruce Macedo was certain of his ambition for a career in law enforcement.
The young graduate enrolled at Merced Jr. College and received his AA degree in Administrative Justice. Afterward, he enrolled at Fresno State University with a major in Criminology. In 1979, recruiters from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department visited the school and enticed the future captain and some friends to take the test. After an extensive process, he was the only one of his friends accepted into the Ventura County Police Academy, from where he graduated in the fall of 1980.

Deputy Macedo’s career with the Sheriff’s Department commenced at the Poli Street Jail, later performing duties for the new pre-trial detention facility at the Ventura County Government Center. He was transferred to Camarillo, working patrol, and then back to Ventura where he patrolled coastal cities and unincorporated areas of the county. He then performed duties as Court Liaison Deputy following up on cases filed with the District Attorney, and coordinating Neighborhood Watch programs. Promoted to Sr. Deputy, he returned to duties at the jail in the capacity of Supervisor of Deputies. His responsibilities included maintaining the safety and care of inmates, including some well-known celebrities. Throughout his career as Sr. Deputy, he served in the Criminal Intelligence Unit investigating illegal gambling, prostitution, organized crime, motorcycle gangs and intelligence threats. During a budget crunch, he returned to patrol duty, besides working collateral part-time assignments on the off-road motorcycle detail, helicopter crew chief, SWAT team, tactical response team in jails, and as an emergency response team and firearms instructor. Promoted to Sergeant, he served at the pre-trial jail, headquarters patrol, Camarillo patrol and Administrative Sergeant. In December 1999, he transferred to the training academy. His work as Basic Academy Coordinator entailed the coordination of 120 instructors in the training of cadets to become police officers, in over 40 domains (subject matter). The Ventura County Police Academy offers approximately 900 hours of training, far surpassing POST standards (minimum standards for all academies) of 650 hours. The year 2003 found him working with the Professional Standards Unit on Internal Affairs investigations, and in March 2005, he was awarded the position of Watch Commander, and the rank of Captain.

March of 2006 was indeed a lucky time for Fillmore, for Captain Bruce Macedo became Chief of Police of our town. An accomplished peace officer with a wonderful well-rounded ability to coordinate, encourage and inspire his staff, sergeants, deputies, volunteers and cadets alike, enabled his many accomplishments in the two short years he has served this community. Some of the accomplishments on a very small budget have included a 10% decrease in serious crime, efforts to expand the North Fillmore Police storefront, expansion of community programs, addition of our motorcycle cop and stronger relationships with Neighborhood Watch programs and the community. His new assignment will return him to Ventura, where he will be Captain of Professional Standards, working with Internal Affairs at the Government Center.

Captain Bruce Macedo has traveled far from the serene valley where he spent his youth. Since his departure, he has accomplished much as a husband of twenty years, a father of two sons, volunteer activities in Cub Scouts and coaching sports, attaining a BA degree in Organizational Management, University of LaVerne, near completion of an MA degree, Emergency Management, CSU Long Beach, and his excellent twenty-seven years of service in law enforcement. Friday, April 4, was his last working day in Fillmore, but we will always be grateful for the time he has spent helping to keep our town a safe place to live. So, in parting, we all wish him the best and say, “Hail to the Chief, Captain Bruce Macedo”.