Santa Barbara Police Chief Announces Retirement

Santa Barbara Police Chief Lori Luhnow made formal today what many City Hall insiders had been long expecting: that she will soon be stepping down as Santa Barbara chief. 

Luhnow, the city’s first female chief, will end her 32-year career in law enforcement and nearly five-year career in Santa Barbara on February 13. Replacing her on an interim basis will be Barney Melekian, a former undersheriff with the County Sheriff’s Department and now assistant county executive officer in charge of public safety matters — a position he will be now be leaving to assume his new role with the SBPD.