News

Joe Cartwright, a 21-year veteran of the Newport Beach Police Department, has been named as its next Chief of Police, City Manager Grace Leung announced Monday.

Cartwright has held a variety of field and command-level positions in just over two decades with the department, serving most recently as acting chief since late December, following the retirement of his predecessor, Jon Lewis.

“Chief Cartwright brings a tremendous breadth and depth of public safety leadership experience to this position,” Leung said. “He is a proven leader with a passion for providing the best possible police services to the Newport Beach community.”

Cartwright will officially step into the new role next month when he will become the 11^th Chief of Police in NBPD history. He leads a staff of 233 employees, who serve in five divisions and a variety of specialized units.

Cartwright began his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1999 and joined the NBPD in 2002. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice, a Master of Arts degree in organizational management, and is a graduate of several advanced law enforcement training courses.

A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Cartwright serves as the chairman of the board of directors for the Newport Beach 1^st Battalion, 1^st Marines Foundation, which provides support and relief for service members and their families.