The new boss is the same as the old boss for Vallejo police.

The city’s new police chief is Jason Ta, who has served in the role on an interim basis since November 2022.

Vallejo City Manager Andrew Murray called Ta with the decision two days ago. The holidays kept the two from meeting personally to discuss the news.

“I’m excited to get past this part obviously,” Ta told the Times-Herald moments after a news release went out early Tuesday night. “There is always the possibility that the city decides to have a change in direction, but I think the community has seen a great improvement in our department recently.”

Ta has served as interim police chief since November 2022, a month after previous chief Shawny Williams resigned. Ta previously served 27 years with the San Jose Police Department in a series of duties, including patrol; undercover, gang, robbery, and sexual assault investigations; field training; traffic enforcement; internal auditing; and community services. He departed San Jose at the rank of captain prior to joining the Vallejo Police Department in 2021 as a Deputy Chief.

Ta said there wasn’t any negotiating once Murray made the decision.

“It was pretty simple,” Ta said. “I’m already here. He knew I was interested in the job and had a desire to stay here permanently.”

In a Tuesday news release, the city wrote: “Chief Ta brings extensive policing and leadership experience to the role and has stabilized department staffing levels, improved the department’s relationship with the community, implemented alternative public safety programs, adopted new crime-reduction technologies, and appropriately resourced and shepherded the completion of many requirements of the collaborative reform effort with the California Department of Justice.”

Ta beat out two other finalists for the job — Fresno Deputy Police Chief Mark Salazar and retired San Francisco Deputy Police Chief Mikail Ali.

According to the the city, it “undertook a robust national search to fill the position,” conducting three community meetings and a community survey.

All three finalists for the position were people of color. As part of the selection process, the city convened four interview panels — professionals, city staff and two community member gatherings. Ta was rated the top candidate by all four interview panels.

Officials say Ta will focus on continuing to improve communication and engagement between the department and the community, increasing staffing, completing the requirements of the Cal-DOJ settlement agreement, and bringing new attention and creativity to some significant quality of life issues, including violent crime, sideshows, abandoned vehicles and sex trafficking.

“Jason distinguished himself by receiving the top rating from all four interview panels as well as having a track record of improving community relationships and advancing the collaborative reform effort,” said Murray in Tuesday’s release.

“I am thankful for City Manager Murray’s confidence in me advancing the department and look forward in working with him,” said Ta in Tuesday’s release. “My commitment to the community, city, and department remains steadfast as we continue our journey in elevating the Vallejo Police Department in becoming the Gold Standard of public safety. We have come a long way and still have much road ahead.”

Vallejo police officers have been responsible for 19 fatal shootings since 2010, the most recent being Detective Jarrett Tonn, who killed Sean Monterrosa in June 2020. Tonn is one of 14 Vallejo police officer often called “The Fatal 14” by local residents, the 14 being officers who have repeatedly shot and killed citizens but faced consequences.

“We’re working on having more partnerships with the DOJ and getting more help from the California Highway Patrol,” Ta said Tuesday. “The Senate Bill that recently went through was a huge accomplishment and is one of the next big steps in partnering up for help and clearing some pretty big hurdles.”

In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill addressing low police staffing numbers, which resulted in Ta calling for a state of emergency in 2023.

Senate Bill 1379, introduced by then-state Sen. Bill Dodd (District 3) earlier this year, allows qualified retirees to exceed the 960-hour limit for the next three years. The waiver would also apply to dispatchers and evidence technicians.

The bill also allows the Solano County Sheriff’s Office to respond to more emergency calls in Vallejo by giving them the necessary deputies to do so. The state has previously allowed retired employees to meet urgent staffing needs with similar exemptions.

The department is authorized to have 132 sworn officers for the city of 123,000 people but as of Dec. 15 is down to 71. On average, it takes up to two years to recruit and train new officers.

So with all the difficulties of the job and with all the scrutiny that comes with reforming a department that has seen backlash recently, why take it?

“For me, it’s the people,” Ta said. “We have some absolutely great people within our city. We also have a great staff and one of the reasons for any success we’ve had recently is the department has officers buying in. It’s a difficult job, and not everyone can do this job with all the obstacles we have. But we do practice techniques that are universal. We want to treat people with dignity and that goes a long way.”