Deputy Police Chief Kyle Stjerne Selected as New Palm Springs Chief of Police

PALM SPRINGS — The mystery is over. Following a thoughtful internal recruitment process and robust community input, Deputy Chief of Police Kyle Stjerne, a 24-year veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department, has been selected to serve as the next Chief of Police for the City of Palm Springs, City Manager Scott Stiles announced today.

Stjerne will succeed retiring Chief of Police Andy Mills and will officially assume the position on September 6.

Deputy Chief Stjerne joined the Palm Springs Police Department in 2002 as a police officer and has steadily advanced through the ranks during his more than two decades of public service. His leadership experience includes assignments as Detective Sergeant, S.W.A.T. Team Leader and Commander, Internal Affairs Unit Sergeant, Police Lieutenant, Police Captain, and, most recently, Deputy Chief of Police, a position he has held since January 2026, where he is entrusted with overall day-to-day operational leadership responsibilities for the entire organization and oversight of the Department’s $46 million budget.

Throughout his career, Deputy Chief Stjerne has demonstrated a strong commitment to public safety, organizational excellence, and community-focused policing. Over the past decade, he has led and managed numerous significant and complex initiatives, including the realignment of the department’s crime-control strategy, which has contributed to a meaningful reduction in overall crime citywide while increasing staff productivity and operational effectiveness.

Stjerne has also served as the officer in charge of numerous high-profile criminal investigations, critical incidents, and major special events, providing experienced leadership during some of the department’s most demanding and visible operations, including presidential visits.

“Over the last four weeks, I have carefully reviewed the 1,300 responses Palm Springs residents contributed to our Police Chief Community Survey, and there is no doubt in my mind that Deputy Chief Stjerne exemplifies the leadership qualities our residents and City Council are seeking,” said City Manager Scott Stiles. “Kyle has grown into an outstanding leader, a seasoned problem solver, and a trusted public servant with a deep understanding of our Palm Springs community and values. I am confident that he will build on the department’s strong foundation, and continue the inclusive, community-centered policing and exemplary service that defines the Palm Springs Police Department.”

Stjerne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Social Problems from San Diego State University. He also earned a Certificate in Management Essentials from Harvard Business School Online and the Public Leadership Credential from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2024. Most recently, he graduated from the renowned Senior Management Institute for Police offered by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in Boston, Massachusetts.

Stjerne currently serves as a member of the Riverside County Law Enforcement Administrators Association, the Police Executive Research Forum, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is also a member of the USO California Advisory Council.

“To be entrusted with leading the Palm Springs Police Department as the next Chief of Police is the profound honor of my professional life. I am deeply grateful to our City Manager, Mayor, City Council, City Staff, the extraordinary men and women of this incredible public safety organization, and the greater Palm Springs community for their confidence in me. We will honor the successes that brought us here while boldly shaping what comes next by leading with integrity, clarity, authenticity, transparency, and genuine community engagement. It is important to me that we relentlessly pursue excellence in all that we do, so we can continue to effectively deter crime, improve quality of life, and truly set a standard for modern policing that Palm Springs can be proud of,” said Chief Stjerne.

Stjerne and his wife, Brooke, have been married for 21 years and have two children. When he’s not working, Kyle is a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, loves hiking in the Coachella Valley, and is an avid reader of books on leadership and high-performance team culture building.