San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata last week announced he is “retiring” from the city so he can join Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen as head of the DA’s Bureau of Investigation.
Mata announced at 10:30am Jan. 9 that he will retire at the end of March after 28 years with the San Jose Police Department and three years as chief. Ninety minutes later, the press release from Rosen’s office announced Mata’s new appointment.
Mata’s stint as chief began in the wake of protests and allegations of unnecessary police violence during protests, and continued in the midst of the Covid pandemic, a succession of police misconduct scandals, as well as calls for reform and transparency as citizens and politicians cited crime as a top city problem.
As police chief, Mata supervises 1,700 employees, of which nearly 1,200 are sworn officers. His DA team includes about 90 investigators. He begins his new position April 1.
In a statement, Mata said, “This decision was not easy, but after careful consideration, I believe it is the right time for me to embark on a new role.”
San José City Manager Jennifer Maguire said the city expects to announce an interim chief of police and begin the recruitment process before Chief Mata retires at the end of March.
In a statement, Mayor Matt Mahan said, “Safety relies on mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and the community—and during his tenure as chief, Tony has won both the trust of the neighborhoods he protects and the respect of the force he leads. He strived to build a more transparent and accountable police department.”
In announcing his departure, the city praised Mata for his 28 years of service with the city, listing as his accomplishments the department’s first strategic plan, increasing diversity through the sworn officer ranks and “managing hundreds of police reform initiatives.”
Mata earned $342,318 in 2022, according to salary information reported by the city to the California Controller’s Office. The DA’s chief investigator was paid a salary of $251,094 in 2022, according to the controller’s report.
