Chief Walters joins the OCDA after a long career in government, law enforcement, and the military. He most recently served as Chief of Staff to Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett of the Fifth District, which encompasses 600,000 residents in south Orange County. Walters previously served as Chief of Police for the City of Santa Ana from 1988 to 2012, and worked as interim City Manager from 2011 to 2013, which overlapped with his work as Chief. During the city’s financial crisis, he implemented a strategic recovery plan of re-negotiating all of the existing union labor contracts and through contracting out of city services while still providing quality services.
Chief Walters is a veteran of the United States Air Force and attained the rank of staff sergeant, during which time he was nominated by the Commanding Officer for the Airman of the Year Award.
Chief Walters’ honors include the Director’s Award from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for exceptional public service and leadership. He is only the second person in history who was not an FBI employee to receive this award. Walters was recognized several times by the California Attorney General, the Governor of California, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate for policing innovations and strategic accomplishments. Walters was also honored with the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, and was personally recognized by President Obama and the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates for exceptional leadership, support, and personal devotion to the National Guard and Reserve.
Chief Walters is currently an Executive Fellow with the Police Foundation, Washington, DC. The Police Foundation’s mission is to advance policing through innovation and science. It is the oldest nationally-known, non-profit, non-partisan, and non-membership-driven organization dedicated to improving America’s most noble profession – policing.
Walters earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy. He received Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor degrees from American College of Law, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from California State University Fullerton. He is married and has three children.