Sylvia joined the Tempe Arizona Police Department as Chief in March 2016. A California native, she has nearly 30 years of local police experience.

She served as Chief of the El Cerrito PD from 2010–2016 and spent most of her early career with the Sacramento PD—rising through every division, commanding major events, training recruits, and serving on the Honor Guard.

Appointed by Governor Brown to the CA POST Commission, Sylvia also sat on the CA Police Chiefs Exec. Committee and today advises national bodies including IACP’s Community Policing Committee and the U.S. Humane Society’s Law Enforcement Council.

She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from CSU Sacramento, an M.A. in Organizational Management, and an M.S. from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

Based in Tempe, she enjoys reading, hiking, marathons—and passionately roots for the Red Sox and the Bears. Currently, she serves as AACOP’s Fifth Vice President.