OCEANSIDE — A seasoned officer with over two decades of public safety experience in the city has officially stepped into the role of chief of the Oceanside Police Department following the retirement of the city’s previous head, Kedrick Sadler.
When Oceanside Police Chief Taurino Valdovinos assumed his position as the city’s new top cop on Nov. 11, his predecessor, Sadler, voiced his confidence in the department’s new leader.
“I have all the faith in the world that (former) Assistant Chief Valdovinos will make an outstanding police chief and lead our department into the future,” Sadler said. “He has accomplished so much in the Oceanside community. I hope you’ll join me in congratulating him.”
Valdovinos, who joined OPD in 2003, has held various roles across the department, including positions in patrol, neighborhood policing, gang suppression, and undercover work in the Special Enforcement Section as a court-certified gang expert.
He has also served as a SWAT team member and Force Options Training Simulator instructor. In 2013, he was promoted to sergeant, where he took on roles as a patrol supervisor and later as the leader of the neighborhood policing team.
In 2015, Valdovinos rose to lieutenant, serving in each of OPD’s three divisions. As a lieutenant, he also served as the department’s bilingual public information officer and launched the Oceanside Youth Partnership, a mentoring program aimed at supporting at-risk youth.
Valdovinos was promoted to captain last year, overseeing the Support Operations Division, before advancing to assistant chief in December.
Valdovinos brings an extensive academic background to his role. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Mary’s College of California and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati. He is a 2022 graduate of both the FBI National Academy and the San Diego County Regional Leadership Institute.
In addition to his responsibilities with OPD, Valdovinos is an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego’s Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership master’s program and sits on the board of directors for Vista Community Clinic.
City Manager Jonathan Borrego welcomed Valdovinos to his new role, emphasizing his commitment to the community.
“With decades of dedicated service to our community, Chief Valdovinos brings proven leadership and a deep understanding of our city’s public safety needs,” Borrego said. “His vision centers on strengthening and leveraging our police department’s core values of professionalism, transparency, community engagement, and innovative policing strategies.”
Borrego noted that Valdovinos plans to hold community listening sessions to invite residents to share their experiences and provide feedback on policing priorities.
Valdovinos, whose family has longstanding ties to Oceanside, expressed his pride in assuming this leadership position. “This has been very special for myself and my family,” he said. “It’s a great honor to lead this city’s police department.”
Valdovinos was born in Mexico, raised in North County San Diego, and graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1995.
City officials also acknowledged Sadler for his 24 years of service, which included roles as a patrol officer, canine handler, property crimes detective, homicide detective, patrol sergeant, Support Operations Division lieutenant, Investigations Division captain, and police chief.
Sadler was appointed chief in April 2023 after former chief Fred Armijo’s retirement.
“We thank Chief Sadler for his long and dedicated service to the Oceanside community,” Borrego said. “He’s led the Police Department with the utmost integrity, transparency, and commitment.”
