Chief Marc Schneider

Chief Marc Schneider started his law enforcement career in 1993 with the City of Pismo Beach. In 1995, he was hired as an officer with the Santa Maria Police Department.

Chief Schneider was promoted to Division Commander in March of 2017 and has overseen all three divisions of the department during his tenure as a commander.

Before promoting to Commander in 2017, Chief Schneider served as a Patrol Lieutenant for four years, which included a one-year assignment to the department’s Administrative Division. As a Lieutenant, Chief Schneider served as the department’s SWAT Team Commander.

As a Sergeant, Chief Schneider spent five years as a patrol supervisor and one year as a training supervisor. Before his promotion to sergeant, Chief Schneider served 14 years as an officer. During those years, he worked in several assignments, including patrol officer, gang investigator, detective, field training officer, and SWAT operator.

As a long-time resident of the City of Santa Maria, Chief Schneider has a passion for serving the community and serves on the following non-profit boards: the Board of Trustees for CALM, the Advisory Board for One805, and the Department Liaison for the Santa Maria Police Council. He is also a member of the following civic organizations: Breakfast Rotary Club of Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538.

Chief Schneider has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management.