Chief Brandon Sanchez has dedicated over 28 years in law enforcement. He started his career at the San Jose Police Department where he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has served in a wide variety of roles—from working undercover narcotics, serving as a SWAT Team Leader, and working as a Robbery Detective and Field Training Officer, to holding key leadership posts including Captain and Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Field Operations, where he oversaw more than 740 personnel and a $366 million budget serving a city of over one million residents.
Chief Sanchez became the Chief of Police in Gilroy on June 1, 2026. Chief Sanchez holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California Coast University and a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego.
His professional education includes graduating from the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), a renowned leadership program that has shaped police executives for decades. He is also a graduate of the Policing Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago Crime Lab—considered one of the nation’s most innovative and sought-after executive leadership trainings, and rapidly becoming the benchmark program for the future of law enforcement leadership.
In addition, Chief Sanchez is a proud recipient of the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award, earned by successfully completing all three cornerstone programs of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association: the Supervisor Leadership Institute, the Command Leadership Institute, and the Executive Leadership Institute. This trilogy reflects a comprehensive foundation in developing supervisors, leading organizations, and driving executive-level change. Locally, he is also a proud member of the Gilroy Rotary Club and the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. Chief Sanchez is also a proud Navy veteran.