Lt. Chris Wilson, a 21-year Orange County Sheriff’s Department veteran, has been named Mission Viejo Chief of Police Services. He begins his new post on April 6, taking the reins from Lt. Mike Gavin, who accepted a position in the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division.
Lt. Wilson steps into the position with a wealth of law enforcement experience and familiarity with this City, which is continually ranked as California’s safest. Most recently, he has served as the Special Services Bureau Commander in the Custody and Courts Division overseeing the department’s transportation detail that’s responsible for all inmate transportation for the 7,000-bed jail system. He was also responsible for managing the effects of Assembly Bill 109 on the jail system. Before that post, Lt. Wilson worked in the department’s ICE Detention Program and was in charge of a $24 million contract with the Immigration and Custom Enforcement Department of the federal government.
Having served as an administrative deputy in Mission Viejo from June 2004 to November 2005 and on patrol for two years before that, Lt. Wilson is returning to familiar grounds.
“My past assignments have allowed me to gain the necessary experience and professional relationships to carry on the rich traditions of previous chiefs and meet the City’s expectations by providing responsive, professional and caring service to the citizens of Mission Viejo,” he said.
Lt. Wilson served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military policeman from 1986-90. He is married with two children and has been active in charity work and coaching his kids’ baseball and soccer teams.
Lieutenant Chris Wilson,
Welcome back to the City of Mission Viejo and congratulations on your new assignment. I hope you find our city has grown, yet still maintains its hometown character since you last served our residents. The citizens, businesses and homeowner associations of Mission Viejo appreciate the fine support provided by the OC sherriff’s in our community.
- Joe Tully