Menifee Police Department Rounds Out Executive Team for Department Kick-off
Menifee hires Lieutenant, 9 Sergeants and Support Services Manager.
The City of Menifee Police Department has quickly gained momentum, with Police Chief Walsh adding additional personnel, who started this week, to his already high caliber Executive Team preparing for the department’s launch on July 1, 2020.
Lieutenant Abigail Valle
Chief Walsh announced the appointment of Lieutenant Abigail Valle, who joins Lieutenants Denise Keith and Heriberto “Eddie” Gutierrez. Lieutenant Valle comes to Menifee with a 16 year history in law enforcement with the Huntington Park Police Department. Her experience ranges from gang task force operations, gang suppression task force, undercover narcotic take-downs, patrol, investigations bureau, field training officer, public information officer, youth counselor and at-risk youth programming, crisis negotiation team, special weapons and tactics, mental health evaluations team, and was responsible for new recruits and hiring new personnel.
Lieutenant Valle is a graduate of the prestigious Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, and holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership from Woodbury University, and a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Communications, with an emphasis in public relations, and a Minor Degree in English from California State University Fullerton. She has been married for 11 years to a police officer, and together they have three children.
“We are excited to have Lieutenant Valle join the Police Department team and family,” said Chief Walsh. “Valle has hit the ground running and has already proven to be a critical part of the team making strides in assisting the team with gearing up for key programs that the department will roll out when we start in July.”
Support Services Manager Danita Robertson
Chief Walsh also added to his executive cabinet Support Services Manager Danita Robertson, who began her law enforcement career as a Police Records Specialist at the Santa Ana Police Department 23 years ago, and of those 18 years in a supervisory capacity. Robertson was instrumental in her career for establishing protocols in record management and audits conducted by the California Department of Justice, purchase requisitions, contracts, and annual budgeting.
Robertson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2015, she earned her Master of Public Administration degree, with an emphasis in Management and Leadership, from California State University, Northridge graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Support Services Manager Danita Robertson joins 9 new Sergeants to round out the Menifee Police Department’s Executive team. “The entire team is already working on key target milestones together, and look forward to the rest of the force joining the team in a few weeks,” said Chief Walsh. “This is a career dream to be able to have your whole team train together, and to be able to select every position to build a top notch department from the ground up- this is remarkable.”
Introducing the 9 new Sergeants who joined the Menifee Police Departments Executive Team:
Sergeant Raul Perez
Sergeant Raul Perez began his law enforcement career over 23 years ago with the Santa Ana Police Department as a Supply and Evidence Specialist. In 2007, Sergeant Perez joined the Montclair Police Department serving as a patrol officer, field training officer, crime suppression officer, property crimes detective, and crimes against persons detective.
In January 2015, Perez was promoted to patrol sergeant. Aside from watch commander duties, Perez supervised the mobile field force team and the Field Training Program. Perez graduated with his Master’s Degree in Emergency Services Administration, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Fullerton. He has been married to his wife of 15 years, and together they have two children.
Sergeant Paul Barbieri
Sergeant Paul Barbieri began his career in law enforcement 19 years ago, starting out with the Los Alamitos Police Department and there he served in various positions including explorer advisor, field training officer, detective, and mobile command post operator. Sergeant Barbieri successfully promoted to the ranks of Corporal and then to that of Sergeant where he has been assigned to patrol for the past five years where he been the recipient of several awards of acknowledgement and commendation for his leadership, commitment, and involvement in the community. Sergeant Barbieri holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton. He and his wife, and their children, reside in the City of Murrieta.
Sergeant Corey Cox
Sergeant Corey Cox began his law enforcement career with the Lompoc Police Department in July 2005 after graduating from the Allan Hancock Police Academy. During his career Sergeant Cox has served in patrol, investigations and administration. As ancillary duties Sergeant Cox was the Tactical Commander for the SWAT team, a firearms instructor, taser instructor, and less lethal munitions instructor.
Sergeant Cox was also part-time faculty for the last seven years at the Allan Hancock Police Academy where he was responsible for the firearms and taser training for recruits.
Sergeant Cox earned his Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.
Sergeant Daniel Higgins
Sergeant Higgins started his law enforcement career in 2001 working as a Military Police Officer Airborne. Being deployed in Afghanistan for 10 months, Iraq for 1 year and a year in South Korea, Sergeant Higgins left the military with an honorable discharge as a Sergeant. In 2007, Higgins joins the Oakland Police Department and worked as an Intelligence Officer in high crime areas and utilizing technology to identify felony suspects earning the Captains Accommodation for his work.
Sergeant Higgins served as a Field Training Officer, and in 2017 promoted to Sergeant. As a Sergeant he oversaw use of force reporting, vehicle pursuits, and Internal Affairs. Sergeant Higgins holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Organization Management, and holds his Advanced POST Certification. Sergeant Higgins is married with four children, and they have relocated to the Menifee area.
Sergeant Christina Reveles
Sergeant Christina Reveles began her career in law enforcement in 2003 joining the Cerritos College Police Department as a Community Safety Officer. In 2007, Sergeant Reveles graduated from the Los Angeles Police Department Academy as an LAPD police officer and worked several patrol divisions across the city, including South Traffic Division as a Collision Investigator. During her tenure at LAPD, she worked as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Instructor and was responsible for investigating collisions often involving drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Reveles teaches various Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and DRE courses for Department employees and surrounding allied agencies.
In 2017, Reveles was promoted to Sergeant and and was assigned as a field supervisor serving as the Officer in Charge of the DRE Unit, overseeing all DUI/DRE related training courses for the Department She was then transferred to the Internal Affairs Administration Investigations Division as a Supervisor Investigator. Sergeant Reveles holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and resides in the City of Menifee.
Sergeant Aaron Drootin
Sergeant Aaron Drootin began his law enforcement career 21 years ago as a Deputy Sheriff in Orange County. Transferring to the City of Orange Police Department in 2004 and have served the City of Orange for 12 years, Sergeant Drootin worked in the patrol and detective divisions. His assignments included Special Enforcement Detail (SED) investigator, Narcotics Detective, and Sex Registrant/Career Criminal Detective. Sergeant Drootin was also a Field Training Officer (FTO) and a member of the SWAT team. Sergeant Drootin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Management. In 2016, Sergeant Drootin transferred to the City of Murrieta Police Department where he served as a Field Training Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor and was a member of the inaugural Community Policing Team (CPT).
Sergeant Jason Adams
Sergeant Jason Adams joins the department from Baldwin Park Police Department where for the past 12 years he worked as a patrol officer, gang detective, organized crime activity, General Detective Bureau, and is a recognized gang expert. His direct experience allowed him opportunities to become an experienced search warrant author, community events, volunteer, SWAT team member (intel, robotics, command post lead, Bearcat operator) and successful court witness for state and federal trials.
Under his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of annual events like, National Night Out, Backpacks for Kids, Coffee with Cops, Christmas with Cops, and the formation of the Baldwin Park Business Association. Sergeant Adams and his wife of 19 years have two children together, and enjoy camping and traveling.
Sergeant Chris Carrino
Sergeant Chris Carrino started his tenure in law enforcement 10 years ago working for the San Diego Police Department, and eventually lateralled over to the Chino Police Department. Working as a Patrol Officer for the past nine years, Carrino was assigned to the Special Enforcement Team as a Special Investigator. In 2015, he was assigned as a Narcotics Investigator where his primary responsibility was the investigation and enforcement of narcotics related activities which also included postal interdiction.
Being promoted to Corporal in November 2016, Carrino was assigned to the Detective Bureau. As a Detective, he investigated all types of persons and property related crimes, and in December 2019, he was assigned to the Background Investigations Unit.
Sergeant Carrino has held multiple ancillary assignments to include being a Grenadier on the Mobile Field Force team, a member of the Bike Patrol team, a Department Instructor in the Less Lethal, Tactics and Academics, a Taser Master Instructor, Use of Force Expert and Principled Policing Instructor. Sergeant Carrino was also the President of the Chino Police Officer’s Foundation which is a non-profit organization that supports youth and families in need throughout the community.
Sergeant Matthew Bloch
Sergeant Matthew Bloch joins the Menifee Police Department family as a 7 year law enforcement veteran and a U.S. Navy veteran. While in the Navy, he worked as a Master at Arms (military police). He was a Nuclear Weapons Security Specialist, and Detention Guard in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he worked at the West Valley Detention Center and most recently the Chino Police Department where he worked as a patrol officer and motor officer. He held multiple collateral duties such as a Collision Investigator, Drug Recognition Expert and was a member of the Mobile Field Force team, Peer Support team and the Police Officers Association.
“This is a very exciting time for the City, and I am proud of what Chief Walsh and his team has been able to do in a short amount of time,” said Mayor Pro Tem Liesemeyer. “The caliber of the team he has been able to build is a testament of the type of dynamic leader Walsh is, and of his executive team. We couldn’t be more proud.”
“The City staff have been looking forward to welcoming Lieutenant Valle, our Sergeants, and key personnel to the City Police Department,” said City Manager Armando Villa. “Chief Walsh, Captains Karrer and Gutierrez, and our Human Resources division had their work cut out for them, and together they were able to bring on and build an impeccable team- one that Menifee can be very proud of.”