Update: Retiring Capt. Medero Salutes the City and Two New Captains

Updated at 1:30 p.m. Monday

Police Capt. Carlos Medero, retiring late this month after 30 years as the senior member of the La Mesa Police Department, is thanking the city and “everyone who made my life so wonderful” as two new captains are promoted.

“Captains David Bond and Dan Willis are two fine individuals with good hearts,” Medero said Monday.  “They will do what it takes to keep La Mesa PD a front-runner in the field of municipal law enforcement.”

Medero’s comments followed those of Police Chief Ed Aceves, who on Sunday said Bond’s elevation from lieutenant to captain became effective Friday and Willis’ title takes effect Friday, Dec. 9.

Bond and Willis are both 23-year veterans of the La Mesa Police Department, with Bond promoted to lieutenant in May 2005 and Willis in January 2006.

Aceves, whose promotion ceremony was Nov. 3, said he expects two lieutenants and two sergeants to be selected by the first of the year to fill vacancies created by Bond and Willis moving up the ladder.

Willis, 48, has been the public face of the department—its public information officer—since January.  He took over the job from Bond, 47, who held the same role for several years.

Willis was SWAT commander for three years, he told Patch in a January 2011 profile.

He also has overseen detectives and investigators, crime analysis as well as some civilian employees and the RSVP—retired senior volunteer patrol members.

Willis grew up in Escondido played basketball at Escondido High, took classes at Palomar College and transferred to San Diego State, where he majored in criminal justice before paying his own way into the police academy in San Diego.

Willis became a reserve officer in La Mesa in 1985 and was hired full time in March 1989. He was named lieutenant in January 2006.

Willis said Aceves has not officially decided on assignments for him and Bond.

“One will be the commander of the Patrol Division, the other will be the commander of the Services Division,” Willis said Monday.  “I will continue as PIO until there is a new lieutenant selected to take my position.  That is not expected to happen until sometime in early January, 2012.
 
For his own part, Willis said: “I very much appreciate the trust the chief has placed in me.  This is a great opportunity to work with Captain Bond and Chief Aceves, as well as the entire police department to not only continue the very high level of professional police service to the community, but to create positive changes that will enable the police department to more effectively connect and interact with the various members of the community.”

Medero, 52, has specific plans for his retirement, but prefers to keep them private, Willis said Monday. 

“Carlos has decided that after 30-plus years of service to the Police Department and the citizens of La Mesa, that it is time to move on to the next chapter in his life,” Willis said.

Medero said in a statement:

I love the Police Department, its mission and my brother and sister officers who have shared the last 30 years with me.  The citizens of La Mesa are policed by some of the finest officers, dispatchers and employees who pledge service to their communities.  I will miss every one of them!
 
The Police Department is in good hands with Chief Ed Aceves at the helm. He is a man with vision and dedication who will continue the great level of service that the citizens of La Mesa have grown to expect and be accustomed to.  I wish him the greatest of success!

I hope I have left the Police Department a little better than I found it.  I hope I have had a positive influence on the lives and careers of those I have worked with.  I take with me the most cherished of memories. What an amazing career I have had! 
 
Thank you to the city of La Mesa, its citizens, and everyone who made my life so wonderful!  God bless you all.