King City appoints interim police chief with Central Coast experience

UPDATE: On Friday night, King City said it plans to re-build trust and turn a new leaf with its residents, as it locks in a new interim police chief. We’re learning the city new top cop has deep roots in Monterey County. Interim Chief Tony Sollecito said he’s more than ready to take over the King City Police Department. He’s planning to wipe the slate clean for the time down the road when the city is able to hire a permanent chief.

“After being retired for about four years it’s great to be back in the saddle again,” Sollecito said by phone Friday night.

Sollecito said he was out of town at the moment but come Monday King City will be his focus. With more than 36 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, he’s worked as a sworn officer for Del Rey Oaks, Salinas, Huntington Beach and Seaside, where he retired as the police chief. Seaside officers we spoke with had nothing but positive things to say about Sollecito and he’s the right fit for King City.

Residents want to know how Sollecito plans to improve community relations following last year’s alleged towing scheme involving six King City police officers, including the city’s last permanent chief.

“The trust is still not there. It’s gonna take a long time to get that trust and you need somebody that has experience but also has a good reputation,” said resident Ricardo Diaz.

Sollecito said he’s ready to tackle the immediate needs and look to the future.

“Bring the trust back not just to the community of King City but to the greater community in the police department, then I’m all for that. And to make it a department that a new permanent chief can come into and not have to deal with other issues but,, you know, just moving forward,” he said.

Moving forward is something the city says it’s aiming to achieve.

“That’s how you build the trust within the community and that’s what we need here,” said King City Councilmember Mike LeBarre.

The city continues to look for a permanent chief and is waiting for information from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, as the city tries to decide what’s best for public safety.

PREVIOUS STORY: King City announced an interim police chief Friday.

City Manager Michael Powers appointed Anthony Sollecito and released this statement Friday morning, “Chief Sollecito has the necessary skills and
knowledge to help move King City forward.”

The interim chief begins work for King City on Monday, January 26.

Also known as Tony, Chief Sollecito is a Monterey County native, having been born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula.

He started his career as a police cadet with the Seaside Police Department in 1970, while still in high school. After graduation, he became a police/emergency dispatcher for the newly formed Monterey County Emergency Communications, dispatching police and emergency calls in the County of Monterey.

In 1974 he became a sworn police officer, and remained such for the next 36 years for the cities of Del Rey Oaks, Salinas, Huntington Beach, and Seaside, where he retired as Chief of Police.

Tony has an Associate degree in Administration of Justice from Monterey
Peninsula College and a Bachelor degree in Management from the University of
Redlands. He has a POST Executive Certificate and is a graduate of the POST Command College and the FBI National Academy. Tony has had many professional affiliations including spending two terms as the president of the Monterey County Chief Law Enforcement Officers’ Association. He is also on his second term as a trustee, and current president of the Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees. Tony is married and has two children.

“Tony’s professional background, as well as his knowledge and experience in
Monterey County, make him well-qualified to serve in the interim Police Chief role. I
appreciate his willingness to take on this task as we continue to weigh our options on the future of law enforcement in King City”, said Mayor Robert Cullen in a statement sent to News Channel 5 Friday.