BPD Chief Lyle Martin
Lyle Martin attended local schools in Bakersfield, CA. Lyle possesses a Master’s degree of Business Administration and has completed his course work toward his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. December of 2016, Lyle Martin was selected as the 20th Chief of Police for the Bakersfield Police Department. Chief Martin worked for the Bakersfield Police Department for 32 years. His experience includes serving as a street level narcotics officer, motorcycle officer, homicide detective, Special Enforcement Unit Sergeant and Lieutenant, SWAT operator and SWAT team leader. After retiring from the Bakersfield Police Department (2019) Chief Martin was selected as the Chief Investigator for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
Chief Martin is a recognized Subject Matter Expert in Law Enforcement Executive Management Development by California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). Chief Martin was a planning committee member and is a graduate of the first cohort of the California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker. He was appointed by the Board of State and Community Corrections to the JAG Grant Executive Steering Committee as a Subject Matter Expert for the 2018 funding cycle representing California municipal police departments. Chief Martin is dedicated to public safety and quality of life issues in our community.
Chief Martin is Adjunct Faculty for California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield College, and was the Lead Faculty Area Chair for the University of Phoenix Central Valley Campus for over 10 years.
Chief Martin is a member of Bakersfield Downtown Rotary, International Association of Chiefs of Police, California Police Chiefs’ Association, California Police Officers Association, Board Member for Mendiburu Magic Foundation, and Kegley Institute of Ethics Community Associate (California State University Bakersfield), California State University Bakersfield Center for Social Justice founding board member, Adventist Health Governing Board member, and President of the Bakersfield Police Activities League (BPAL). Chief Martin also enjoys reading and working out.