STANTON, Ca. (March 3 , 2026): Captain Matt Stafford has been selected as the Chief of Police Services for the City of Stanton. He begins his new assignment on Friday, March 6.
“I’m honored to stand beside the men and women who deliver exceptional service to the great city of Stanton,” Captain Stafford said. “I appreciate the opportunity to bring my experience and leadership to support and strengthen this dedicated team.”
Captain Stafford joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2004 and served in custody operations where, early in his career, he began laying the foundation for his investigative expertise. He served in multiple ancillary assignments, including as a certified drug recognition expert and on the Central Men’s Jail gang team.
When he promoted to patrol operations in the city of Lake Forest in 2010, Captain Stafford earned several specialty assignments, including becoming a Field Training Officer, and working on the Special Enforcement Team and the South Directed Enforcement Team.
Captain Stafford became an investigator in 2015 and worked a variety of assignments, including general investigations for the city of Aliso Viejo, the Regional Narcotics Suppression Program, and the South Narcotics Detail.
After promoting to sergeant in 2020, Captain Stafford worked at the Central Men’s Jail before serving as supervisor for the North Narcotics, VICE and Human Trafficking teams. Under his leadership, the team was recognized for the California Narcotics Officers’ Association Street Level Case of the Year.
Captain Stafford was promoted to lieutenant in 2025, overseeing daily operations at the James A. Musick Facility. Most recently, he served as the Court Operations Division Captain for the Central Justice Center, managing law enforcement operations at the court.
Captain Stafford has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from California State University, Fullerton, and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Chapman University.
When not working, Captain Stafford enjoys golfing and spending time with his family.
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