EXCESSIVE HEAR WARNING FORECAST THROUGH THURSDAY 

SMPD UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP 
VOLUME 20 NO. 40SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 
Council Approves Former La Habra Police Chief Jerry Price FollowingSMPD Chief Gus Barrientos' Retirement 

September 28, 2026 – The Sierra Madre City Council has appointedveteran law enforcement executive Jerry Price to serve as Interim Chief of 
Police following the announcement of Police Chief Gustavo Barrientos’ 
retirement. 

The City Council approved Price’s appointment at its September 8thCity Council Meeting. Price brings more than 30 years of municipal lawenforcement experience to Sierra Madre, including nearly a decade as Chiefof Police for the City of La Habra. 

“Jerry brings extensive experience leading a full-service municipal police 
department and understands the unique role local law enforcement playsin the community,” said City Manager Mike Bruckner. “His experience andleadership will provide stability and continuity for the Police Departmentduring this transition. I am confident that our officers, professional staff,
and community will be well served under his leadership.” 

Price began his law enforcement career with the La Habra Police Departmentin 1991 and rose through the ranks from Police Officer to Chief of Police.
As Chief, he led a department of more than 100 full-time employees servinga community of more than 62,000 residents and managed an annual budgetexceeding $20 million. His career includes leadership assignments in patrol,
investigations, professional standards, emergency response, personnel andlabor relations, and community policing. 

Price holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from California 
State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a Bachelor of Science inOrganizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. He also holds California POST Executive, Management, and 
Supervisory Certificates and has completed advanced executive leadership training through POST and the SeniorManagement Institute for Police. 

“The Sierra Madre Police Department has a proud tradition of providing professional, community-focused lawenforcement services,” Price said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve Sierra Madre and look forward to 
working alongside the men and women of the Department, City staff, and the community.” 

Price will assume his duties as Interim Chief of Police beginning October 5th, and will serve in that role while the Citydetermines its next steps for the permanent leadership of the Sierra Madre Police Department. 

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FORECAST THROUGH THURSDAY 

San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles city and county

agencies to plan, communicate and 

temperatures expected respond to the January 20-25 fires 

between 98-105 degrees that killed 31 people and destroyed

16-thousand structures. 

through Thursday. 

The 7-hundred-24-page report 

With excessive heat in the forecast 

also found that the COUNTY Fire 

for the next week, electrical demand 

Department -- the lead agency 

is expected to soar as Southland 

handling the EATON fire that 

residents crank up the A-C. 

began in foothills of Altadena -had 
significant communication 

Power providers are urging 

issues resulting in critical 

customers to conserve wherever 

information never reaching 

possible to help avoid outages. 

incident commanders ... and failed 
An independent investigation to use advanced technology such as 
ommissioned by Governor Gavin satellite imagery. 
Newsom has released findingsaffirming key failures on the part 


Jerry Price - Sierra Madre Interim Chief of PolicePhoto Courtesy City of La Habra 


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