Pasadena Police Chief Heads Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Security for Final Time Before Retirement

Pasadena Chief of Police John Perez will be keeping watch over the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game today for the final time.

Perez retires next week, having risen through the ranks after being hired in 1985

“It’s been a fantastic and purposeful career but change is always good!” the 37-year veteran told Pasadena Now in a recent interview.

Standing along the Rose Parade route Friday, Perez said his leaving a department and city he has served so long is “bitter4sweet.”

“These are exciting times, Perez said. “I wish I could keep doing all this forever because it’s fantastic. So many people are coming into town. It’s already getting busy. But I am looking forward to ending this year and starting a new year.”

With the Rose Parade, Perez said, the world looks at us for the hope, the energy, the collaboration that we all work together, try to solve all our problems.

“So the world looks to Pasadena every year on January 1st where the sun, the sunshine, everything that you would want this year, is picture-perfect.”

Perez sounded optimistic about the police department he will leave behind.

“We are ready to tackle our problems for 2022. We are starting with a lot of energy, a lot of good people, and we are better right now than we were a year ago with COVID. We’re more innovative,” Perez said. “We are solving many, many, many parts of the problems that have been around for many decades. I believe that we are in a very good place right now for people to work together. I believe we’re in a better place to do that today than we were a year ago.”

“It’s going to be a really good year.”