DANA POINT, Ca. (Feb. 21, 2023): Captain Todd Hylton has been selected as the new Chief of Dana Point Police Services. He will begin his new assignment Friday, Feb. 24.
“Having previously served the city of Dana Point, I look forward to returning in this new capacity and sharing my experience with the community,” Captain Hylton said. “I am humbled and honored to lead the dedicated team that works hard daily to create a safe place to visit and live.”
Captain Hylton joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2004 and worked as a deputy in Custody Operations and Patrol Operations. He first served in unincorporated North Orange County then the city of Yorba Linda, where he started the city’s first Explorer Division for youth interested in a career in law enforcement.
He was promoted to sergeant where he worked a variety of assignments, including Custody Operations and Court Operations, before being a field supervisor in the city of Dana Point. As a sergeant, he also worked in the Mutual Aid Bureau, Internal Affairs, and as the department’s Public Information Officer.
Captain Hylton promoted to Lieutenant in 2022 and was assigned to the Theo Lacy Jail as the Watch Commander. Most recently, he served as the jail’s Special Projects Lieutenant.
In addition, Captain Hylton has extensive specialized law enforcement training in Critical Incident Response, Mobile Field Force, and Incident Command Systems. He also is well-versed in special event management and crisis communications strategy and management.
He has a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from the University of California, Berkeley and currently serves as an instructor at Rancho Santiago Community College.
Captain Kirsten Monteleone, Dana Point’s current Chief of Police Services, is being promoted to Commander of Southeast Operations, overseeing the cities of Lake Forest, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita, and the county’s south unincorporated areas. She also begins her new assignment Feb. 24.
