Mickey Williams, a nearly 30-year member of the Carlsbad Police Department and the chief since 2021, will retire this spring, city officials announced Thursday.
Williams will step down April 15 and be succeeded by current Assistant Chief Christie Calderwood, who will become the department’s first female chief.
“Chief Williams has led the Carlsbad Police Department into the era of modern law enforcement,” City Manager Scott Chadwick said. “By prioritizing trust, transparency and the responsible use of technology, Chief Williams has created a culture in the department focused on continuous improvement and an exceptional level of service.”
Williams began his career with the city in 1995. As chief, Williams has been known for increasing the use of technology and community collaboration, according to department officials.
In 2020, he led Carlsbad’s response to Black Lives Matter demonstrations, working closely with organizers to create a safe and respectful environment, city officials said. He later collaborated with other law enforcement agencies in the region on a model de-escalation policy that has since been adopted countywide.
Calderwood will be sworn in as the city’s 11th police chief on April 9 and officially assume the role six days later. At that time, Carlsbad will have the unique distinction of their public safety agencies being led by a married couple, as her husband Michael Calderwood has been Carlsbad’s fire chief since 2018.
Calderwood joined the police department 17 years ago and has served as its second-in-command for two years. She has hands-on experience in every aspect of law enforcement, including investigations, patrol and administration, city officials said.
In 2016, she was responsible for developing and supervising the department’s newly formed Crime Suppression Team, which pairs analytics with on-the-ground intelligence to deploy department resources in optimal ways.
“I am deeply honored to take on this new role, serving as police chief in the community where I grew up and where I first found my calling to serve,” Calderwood said. “I am looking forward to working with the community in this new capacity and leading the outstanding group of professionals that make up the Carlsbad Police Department.”
Calderwood, a graduate of La Costa Canyon High School, earned a bachelor of arts in literature and writing at California State University San Marcos, as well as a master of science in administration.
In 2019, she became one of the less than 1% of law enforcement professionals in the nation to be selected to participate in the FBI National Academy, according to city officials.
Calderwood, who currently is president of the California Peace Officers’ Association, lives in Carlsbad with her husband and their two children.
The police department has 187 employees and an annual budget of $55.6 million.
– City News Service contributed to this report