SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 9, 2023): Captain AJ Patella has been selected as the new North Patrol Bureau Captain.
The North Patrol Bureau Captain serves as the Chief of Police Services for the city of Villa Park and the county’s north unincorporated areas. Captain Patella also will manage public safety services for major county events, including the Orange County Fair, and various festivals and events at Orange County parks.
“North Patrol offers unique opportunities in law enforcement, providing for the safety of more than 70,000 residents who call the area home, and also protecting those who visit and enjoy many major events in Orange County throughout the year,” Captain Patella said. “Having previously served the North Patrol communities, I am honored to be selected and look forward to contributing to the future successes of the bureau.”
Captain Patella joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1999 as a Sheriff’s Special Officer, working at the James A. Musick Facility. In 2003, he became a deputy sheriff, serving in Custody Operations then Patrol Operations. He worked in North Patrol, where he served as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), Field Training Officer and as the Administrative Deputy, coordinating public safety services for various special events.
He was promoted to sergeant and worked a variety of assignments, including Custody Operations and the Professional Services Command, where he was assigned to Internal Affairs then the Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) Unit.
Captain Patella promoted to Lieutenant in 2020 and was assigned to the Central Jails Division as the Watch Commander before serving as the Department Commander, managing day-to-day patrol operations for the department. Most recently, he served as Captain of the Behavioral Health Bureau, overseeing a multi-disciplinary team committed to assisting the homeless population and those with mental health needs through a robust program that includes proactive engagement and resource distribution.
In addition, Captain Patella has extensive specialized law enforcement training in Critical Incident Response, Mobile Field Force, Incident Command Systems and Special Event Management and Operations. He will begin his new assignment Friday, March 10.
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