Update on the City of Lompoc

Chief Martin has been serving in the interim chief role since the departure of Chief Joe Mariana at the end of 2022, and was officially sworn in as Lompoc Police Chief on March 21, 2023.

He began his career in law enforcement in 1991 with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and went on to join the Lompoc Police Department in 1994.

In 2003, Martin move over to the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD). In Santa Maria, Martin became a detective after one year of service. He was selected as one of two detectives tasked with starting the high-tech crimes unit for SMPD. While assigned in this role, Martin developed skills in computer forensics and cell phone forensics.

Then in 2007, Martin left law enforcement to instruct cell phone forensics to law enforcement personnel in the United States and around the world. In 2009, Kevin Martin left the private sector to return to law enforcement and was rehired by the Lompoc Police Department.

Martin pormoted through the rank structure. In 2019, newly promoted Chief Mariani selected Martin to fill the open captain position. Mariani spent the next four years mentoring and teaching then Captain Martin to succeed him as the chief of the Lompoc Police Department.