Local & Community
Cathedral City Appoints Rick Sanchez as First Latino Police Chief
City Manager Andrew Firestine has appointed Rick Sanchez as Cathedral City's next Police Chief, following a national search and selection process that included community input.
Sanchez, who has served as Acting Police Chief since the retirement of Chief George Crum on December 18, 2025, becomes the first Latino to lead the Cathedral City Police Department.
A Career Built in Cathedral City
Sanchez is a nearly 20-year veteran of the Cathedral City Police Department. He joined the agency as a police officer in 2006 and has served in Patrol, Graffiti/Gangs, Investigations and SWAT.
He spent 13 years with Desert Regional SWAT, including time as a team leader, and served for 10 years as a member of the department's Honor Guard. As a sergeant, Sanchez supervised Patrol, the Detective Bureau and the Professional Standards Bureau.
He was later promoted to Commander, overseeing Investigations, and then to Deputy Chief, where he oversaw the department's Operations, Investigation and Support Bureaus.
Sanchez holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from California Coast University and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, San Bernardino. He also completed leadership and management programs through the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, the Los Angeles Police Department and California POST.
"We conducted an extensive and competitive search, advertising the position nationally and evaluating candidates from across the country," Firestine said. "What became clear through that process is that the leader our community was looking for had been part of our team all along."
A Search Shaped by the Community
The city advertised the position nationally while also asking residents to provide input through a community survey offered in English and Spanish. The feedback was used to help develop the position profile and was provided to interview panel members.
The interview panel included civic leaders, nonprofit and community organizations, law enforcement professionals and police chiefs from neighboring agencies.
Sanchez said he was "deeply honored and humbled" by the opportunity to lead the department and thanked former Chief George Crum for his leadership and mentorship.
"As Chief, I look forward to working alongside our exceptional employees, our City leadership, our public safety partners, and the members of our community," Sanchez said.
The Cathedral City Police Department has 81.5 sworn and professional staff and serves a community of more than 52,000 residents.
Sanchez succeeds Crum as the department's permanent police chief and will oversee the agency's public safety operations as Cathedral City continues to focus on community partnerships, transparency and public safety.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: NBC Palm Springs
August 20, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
It’s been one month since a car crashed into the Burger Box restaurant in Indio. Owner Anthony Ruiz says a lot has been happening behind the scenes since then. With some new, big developments over the past week, Ruiz spoke with NBC Palm Springs’s @maria_nvtv to discuss rebuilding, new details about the investigation taking place, and how the owners are feeling now. Watch the full on update on NBC Palm Springs at 5 & 6, and visit nbcpalmsprings.com to hear where things stand, what’s next, and how the Burger Box family is reflecting on this incident as they navigate their new reality. #BurgerBox #update #indio #localbusiness #rebuilding
Social time with Thalia and Jerry and Hayden
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Damian Durinzi’s Catch in Traffic, 2) Jaylen Turner Finding the End Zone with Pressure, 3) Aiden Pope’s 95 Yard Punt Return, 4) Colton LaCrone’s 40 Yard Rushing TD, or 5) Adam Tremper’s 30 Yard Rushing TD #fypage #fridaynightlights #top3 #hondaofthedesert
FIREFIGHTERS FACE A “FIRENADO” IN IDAHO Talk about a terrifying sight. While battling the Cave Fire near Kuna, Idaho, firefighters encountered a massive fire whirl — commonly called a “firenado.” The dramatic footage shows the powerful column of swirling fire as crews worked to battle the wildfire. Watch the video at NBCPalmSprings.com. #Firenado #Wildfire #Idaho #Firefighters #FireWeather #CaveFire #NBCPalmSprings
Are Coachella Valley roads designed more for cars than people? With 65 pedestrian deaths reported across the Valley’s nine cities in roughly five years, The Roggin Report takes a closer look at pedestrian safety, dark-sky rules, road design and who should be responsible for keeping people safe. Drivers? Cities? Or pedestrians themselves? Watch the full discussion on The Roggin Report at NBCPalmSprings.com/therogginreport
Erosion, rising tides and unstable bluffs are reshaping San Clemente’s iconic coastline — and officials are testing new ways to protect the beach, rail line and nearby infrastructure. The city is using a combination of sand, rock, plants, reinforcement and new walls to fight the impacts. The Orange County Transportation Authority has also built a catchment wall to help keep landslide debris off the coastal rail tracks. And there’s a Coachella Valley connection: San Clemente City Manager Andy Hall previously served as Cathedral City’s city manager. With sea levels rising and extreme tidal events putting more pressure on California’s coast, officials say the work in San Clemente could help other coastal communities prepare for what’s ahead. Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com. #SanClemente #CaliforniaCoast #CoastalErosion #CathedralCity #CoachellaValley NBCPalmSprings
80s pop icon Taylor Dayne is coming to the Coachella Valley, and you could be there! Taylor Dayne sits down with our entertainment contributor TOD Macofsky for a conversation about her legendary career, classic hits, Palm Springs, her upcoming Las Vegas residency and what fans can expect when she takes the stage at Spotlight 29. Taylor Dayne performs Friday, September 4 at 8 p.m. at Spotlight 29. Want to WIN tickets? Enter now at: nbcpalmsprings.com/promotions Watch the full interview with Taylor Dayne on Desert Entertainment with TOD at NBCPalmSprings.com. #TaylorDayne #Spotlight29 #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #80sMusic ConcertGiveaway TicketGiveaway DesertEntertainment
California is considering major penalties for hospitals and medical groups that exceed state healthcare spending targets. But could those fines actually lead to cuts in critical services like emergency rooms, mental health and obstetrics? Tammy and Stephanie weigh in on the potential impact—and why controlling healthcare costs may be a double-edged sword. Watch the full discussion and hear the panel’s take at NBCPalmSprings.com/therogginreport
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Tonight the city of Coachella made history - becoming the first city in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County to enact a permanent data center ban. The unanimous decision comes after months of demands from hundreds of residents asking city council to shut down a massive data center project proposed in the east end of the city. Tonight at 11, our @newsbyalondra has the latest details.