Housing and Development Newsletter
He was hired by the Santa Maria department in 1995, and has worked as an officer, sergeant, and lieutenant. In March 2017 was promoted to division commander.
A longtime Santa Maria resident, Schneider has a passion for serving the community, with stints on several nonprofit groups, including Child Abuse Listening Mediation (CALM), One805, and the Santa Maria Police Council.
He is also a member of the Breakfast Rotary Club of Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Elks Lodge.
He has a bachelor’s degree in criminology and a master’s degree in human resource management.
The Police Department has 196 positions, and its Santa Maria public safety communications center receives more than 170,000 calls for police and fire service every year.
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Todd Tuggle appointed as fire chief following Champion retirement
Todd Tuggle has been appointed to serve as Santa Maria s interim fire chief, filling the role Leonard Champion will leave upon his retirement Thursday.
City Manager Jason Stilwell made the appointment that will take effect Saturday, according to city spokesman Mark van de Kamp.Â
Joining the Santa Maria Fire Department in February as the city s first deputy fire chief in 10 years, Tuggle previously served 17 years in the Fresno Fire Department, holding the title of battalion chief at the end of his tenure.
The interim chief will oversee the department s 75 personnel and five community fire stations, as well as a sixth station at the Santa Maria Public Airport, van de Kamp said. The department responds to approximately 10,000 calls for service annually.Â