Acosta Appointed to Lead District Police Department

Chancellor Judy Miner has named Daniel Acosta, a 33-year local law enforcement veteran, as Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s next chief of police. He currently serves as assistant chief.

“Since joining the department in 2014, Danny has helped us build a strong foundation of community policing,” Miner said. “As chief, he will be able to leverage the relationships and partnerships that are unique to his history with the district and the larger community. His personal story as a first-generation college student will undoubtedly resonate with a great many of our students, for whom he will be a role model.”

Before joining the Foothill-De Anza Police Department, Acosta spent 29 years with the San Jose Police Department, attaining the rank of lieutenant. At SJPD his assignments included commanding an auto theft task force and patrol operations, supervising the training of new recruits, conducting internal affairs investigations, developing a gaming control division, and supervising the vice unit and patrol operations. He has been an instructor for many years with the San Jose Police Academy and the academy of the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium.

“It has been my great privilege to serve as assistant chief and I look forward to leading our police department as it moves forward to ensure the safety of our district,” Acosta said. “During my four-and-a-half years at Foothill-De Anza, I have enjoyed the opportunity to engage with a very diverse and exhilarating community of students, faculty and staff. I intend to continue a high level of engagement with the campus community.”

The district’s Board of Trustees approved Acosta’s appointment on Dec. 10 and he will take over as chief on Dec. 29, succeeding Chief Ron Levine who is retiring after 15 years leading the department. His swearing-in ceremony will take place on Jan. 7.

Acosta is the son of Mexican immigrants and is fluent in Spanish. Born in Colusa, CA., Acosta moved with his family to San Jose before his first birthday and has lived there ever since. His parents worked at various jobs in agriculture and manufacturing industries in Santa Clara Valley while raising three children.

Encouraged by his parents to pursue higher education, Acosta is among the first generation of his family to attend college. He graduated from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Mexican American studies. He and his wife Norma, a senior deputy city attorney for the city of San Jose, have three daughters who are all currently college students.

Acosta, 56, serves on the board of the Shop with a Cop Silicon Valley Foundation and previously served on the Santa Clara County Mental Health Advisory Board. He completed the city of San Jose’s community leadership training program in 2014 and has worked as a volunteer with a variety of programs including the Special Olympics, Puente, ASPIRE, and the Role Model Program founded by former San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales.

The new chief was among three finalists recommended for the position by a search committee. The finalists presented their qualifications and philosophies at open forums and the chancellor invited the campus community to submit comments.

Posted Dec. 12, 2018