Command Staff
Chief James Leal started his career as a Deputy with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, followed by the San Mateo Sheriff’s Department. Chief Leal was then hired by the City of Newark as a Police Officer in 1988. Over the next 20 years Chief Leal moved up the ranks, working in almost every assignment in the police department. Chief Leal was appointed to the position of Police Chief on August 1, 2008. He is the eighth Police Chief since the City's incorporation in 1955.
Chief Leal earned his Associate of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from Chabot College in 1985. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from St. Mary’s College in 2003, as well as his Masters Degree in Public Leadership in 2006. He has been an Administration of Justice Instructor at both Ohlone and Chabot Colleges. He is also a graduate of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Command College and the Senior Management Institute for Policing in Boston. Chief Leal is currently a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the California Police Chiefs Association, and the Newark Rotary Club. He has served as the Director of International Services for Newark Rotary, as well as President in 2008-2009.
Chief Leal can be contacted at james.leal@newark.org or (510) 578-4725.
Commander Mike Carroll has been a Police Officer for the City of Newark since April of 1991. Mike has a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Hayward.
He is currently assigned Administrative Commander. His past specialized assignments include: Detective Supervisor, Canine Supervisor, Field Training Officer, School Resource Officer, Trauma Support Team Member, Hostage Negotiator, and Explorer Advisor. Cdr. Carroll was the Police Department's first gang detective when he was selected to join the Southern Alameda County Gang Suppression Task Force. Cdr. Carroll was selected as NPD Officer of the Year in 2004 and California Junior Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Public Safety Officer in California in 1998.
Cdr. Carroll is married and has three children. In his free time, Mike coaches a local soccer team and enjoys spending time with his family.
To contact Commander Mike Carroll please email him at michael.carroll@newark.org or call him at (510) 578-4220.
Commander Tom Milner was hired February 19, 2002. Cdr. Milner came to Newark with 18 years of law enforcement experience. His last assignment was as a patrol sergeant with the Sausalito Police Department, 1995-2002, where his duties included patrol watch commander, director of numerous citizen police academies, and having charge of numerous community policing programs.
Prior to being hired by Sausalito, Cdr. Milner served with the Berkeley Police Department, 1985-1995, where he rotated through a variety of assignments in the Patrol, Narcotics and the Investigations Divisions. Cdr. Milner has served as a Division Commander of Operations, Administration and Support Services - as well as a SWAT commander.
Cdr. Milner graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, and went on to earn an AA degree from Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. Cdr. Milner graduated with a B.A. degree in 1983 from California State University Chico, where he majored in Criminal Justice. Cdr. Milner is a graduate of St. Mary’s College, having been awarded an M.A.degree in Leadership for the Public Sector. Cdr. Milner is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, class #224 in 2006. Cdr. Milner is currently an instructor and area chairperson with the University of Phoenix.
Cdr. Milner enjoys spending time with his family, coaching, reading, being involved in the community, along with many outdoor activities. Cdr. Milner believes strongly in our COPPS (Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving) programs here in Newark.
To contact Commander Tom Milner please email him at tom.milner@newark.org or call him at (510) 578-4225.
Commander Renny Lawson started his law enforcement career with the City of Newark. He was hired as a Police Officer in June 1987 and has since held many special assignments and collateral duties for the Department. Cmdr. Lawson was promoted to Sergeant in September 1999 and Commander in October 2011.
Some of the assignments previously held by Cmdr. Lawson are: SWAT member, SWAT Team Leader, Field Training Officer, Field Training Officer Program Coordinator, Detective, Detective Sergeant, Range Master, and Training Manger.
Cmdr. Lawson has a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from Excelsior College in Albany, NY and is a graduate of the Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Supervisory Leadership Institute.
Cmdr. Lawson is currently assigned to Field Operations where he oversees Patrol functions, as well as, the Traffic Division, Evidence Technicians, Field Training Officer program, Canine Program, and the Bicycle Patrol Officer program, to name a few.
To contact Commander Renny Lawson please email him at renny.lawson@newark.org or call him at (510) 578-4975.