The 24-year Palm Springs Police veteran will succeed retiring Chief Andy Mills on September 6
PALM SPRINGS, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/1/26 – After more than two decades serving the Palm Springs community, Deputy Chief Kyle Stjerne is preparing to take on the biggest leadership role of his career as the city’s next Chief of Police.
Stjerne, a 24-year veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department, has been selected to succeed retiring Chief Andy Mills and will officially assume command on September 6, 2026.
“I really feel excited about this opportunity,” Stjerne said during a recent television interview discussing his upcoming role and priorities for the department.
Stjerne joined the Palm Springs Police Department in 2002 and has steadily risen through the ranks, serving in positions including detective sergeant, S.W.A.T. team leader and commander, internal affairs sergeant, lieutenant, captain and, most recently, deputy chief.
Since January 2026, he has helped oversee the department’s daily operations along with its approximately $46 million budget.
Stjerne steps into leadership at a time when law enforcement agencies throughout the country are increasingly relying on technology.
Palm Springs has embraced tools ranging from cameras and drones to other surveillance technology intended to assist officers with public safety and crime prevention.
For Stjerne, however, utilizing new technology also comes with an obligation to explain clearly to residents how that technology is being used.
“We have to be just as open and willing to the public and the community and make sure that we’re doing a good job explaining exactly what the technology does and what it doesn’t do,” Stjerne said.
That transparency is particularly important as Palm Springs continues conversations surrounding surveillance technology and privacy.
When asked what he would say to residents who believe the department still needs to become more transparent, Stjerne welcomed the criticism and dialogue.
“Continue to tell us what we can do better,” he said.  “Continue to tell us how else we can reach out in a meaningful way so that those conversations can be had.”
Rather than viewing the chief as the sole public face of the department, Stjerne says residents should expect to see a broader team of Palm Springs police leaders becoming more visible throughout the city.
“One person can only do a lot when it comes to community investment,” he said.
Under his leadership, Stjerne said residents can expect officers and department leaders to attend more neighborhood gatherings, community events, street fairs and parades.
“You can expect to see us at a lot of community events. You can expect to see us at street fairs. You can expect to see us at some of the parades,” he said.
The goal, he explained, is for residents to feel comfortable approaching members of the department and engaging in conversations about issues that matter to them.
For a city such as Palm Springs, where community participation, tourism, major events and a diverse resident population all intersect, that type of visibility could become an important part of Stjerne’s tenure.
Stjerne brings considerable institutional knowledge to the position.
Over his career, he has overseen major criminal investigations and critical incidents and has helped manage significant events, including presidential visits. He has also been involved in reshaping the department’s crime-control strategies.
City Manager Scott Stiles selected Stjerne following an internal recruitment process that included extensive community input. According to the city, approximately 1,300 residents responded to the Palm Springs Police Chief Community Survey.
Stiles said Stjerne’s leadership experience and understanding of Palm Springs made him a strong choice to guide the department into its next chapter.
Stjerne holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from San Diego State University and has completed management and leadership programs through Harvard University and Harvard Business School Online. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police.
Stjerne’s appointment comes as Chief Andy Mills prepares to conclude an extraordinary 48-year career in law enforcement.
Mills has led the Palm Springs Police Department since October 2021 and will officially retire on September 5.
On a personal note, I have had the pleasure of knowing Chief Andy Mills and his wife, Cathy, and have always appreciated their warmth and support. When I was honored by The L-Fund, Andy and Cathy even chose to sit with me for the evening, a gesture I have never forgotten. I wish Andy all the very best as he closes this remarkable chapter of his career and begins the next one.
During his years in Palm Springs, Mills emphasized community policing, public safety, officer wellness and stronger connections between officers and the people they serve.
His departure leaves what Stjerne acknowledges are some very big shoes to fill.
But after 24 years within the Palm Springs Police Department, Stjerne isn’t coming into the job as an outsider. He knows the officers, the organization and, perhaps most importantly, the community.
As he prepares to take command, his message appears clear: technology will continue to evolve, policing will continue to change, and challenges will inevitably arise, but communication and community involvement must remain at the center of it all.
For Palm Springs residents, they can also expect to see their new chief out in the community.
Not simply behind a desk, but at the street fairs, parades and neighborhood events that make Palm Springs the city it is.
By Valerie Milano
