Senior Associate
Retired Chief, Cypress Police Department
Retired Lieutenant, Orange County Police Department
Program Director for California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute (CPCELI) at Drucker
Chief Jackie Gomez-Whiteley is a 33-year law enforcement professional serving with distinction in Orange, Los Angeles, and Monterey County. In 1986, she began her sworn career at the Orange Police Department where she served in all three divisions: Patrol, Investigations, and Administration. She was the department’s first woman motor officer, as well as sergeant and lieutenant. In 1989, Jackie was involved in an officer-involved shooting of a kidnap and attempted murder suspect. As a result of her actions, she was awarded the Medal of Valor.
After 23 years at Orange PD, she accepted a position as Captain at the Cypress Police Department where she oversaw both divisions: Operations and Support Services. In 2011, she was appointed Chief of Police and the first woman to serve as Police Chief of a municipal agency in Orange County. She retired in 2015 and shortly thereafter, served as Interim Police Chief for the Alhambra Police Department in Los Angeles County from 2016 – 2017. In 2019, she served as Interim Police Chief for the Pacific Grove Police Department in Monterey County.
Chief Gomez-Whiteley obtained her Master of Arts degree from Chapman University in Organizational Leadership with a certificate in Public and Non-Profit Leadership. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola Marymount University in Psychology with a minor in Alcohol and Drug Studies. In 2007, Jackie graduated from the P.O.S.T. Command College, where she published an article in Police and Security News Magazine titled: Dirty Bombs: Calculating the Threat.
Chief Gomez-Whiteley has been an adjunct instructor at various law enforcement training centers throughout the state for 29 years and is Program Director for the prestigious California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker.
Chief Gomez-Whiteley is a volunteer and President of Officers Give Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to hosting marrow donor drives in the public safety community throughout the State of California. She is a member of the California Police Chiefs’ Association, California Peace Officers’ Association, and International Association of Chief of Police. Chief Gomez-Whiteley continues to serve on many boards, such as Orange County Exploring Learning for Life.