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Your SacPD

Zack Bales

Your SacPD

Zack Bales

Email Captain Bales

Meet Captain Zack Bales

Office of Operations - South Command

Captain Zachary Bales has been with the Sacramento Police Department since 2002. He is currently assigned as the South Area Commander in the Office of Operations. Zack has also worked as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Leadership Instructor, Less Lethal, and Tactical Communication Instructor, Parole Intervention Team Officer, Felony Assault and Homicide Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Backgrounds and Recruiting Sergeant, Internal Affairs Investigator, Patrol Watch Commander, Area Command Executive Lieutenant, Research Development and Training Lieutenant, Outreach and Engagement Lieutenant, and the Special Services Division in the Office of the Chief.

Photo of Zack Bales in uniform with the American flag in the background

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Prior to the police department, Zack was a US Army Armored Cavalry Officer, eventually obtaining the rank of Captain. Zack received the Army Commendation Medal, The Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, The Draper Armor Leadership Award, Army Physical Fitness Excellence Badge, and a Sacramento Police Department Unit Citation Award.

Zack received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society from UC Santa Barbara, a Graduate Certificate in Law Enforcement Command from the University of San Diego, and a Master of Arts degree in Intelligence (Criminal Intelligence) with honors from American Military University. Zack has also received POST Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory and Management Certificates, and graduated from the POST Management Course 2014, Sherman Block SLI Class 369 2015, and POST Command College Class 65 and the POST Executive Development Course in 2020.

Zack is a board member of the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Sacramento and Sacramento Police Sheriff Memorial, he is a youth baseball and mountain bike coach, and previous Boy Scout leadership committee member and den leader. Awarded the "Golden Spike" award in 2015 for outstanding adult leadership. Zack was a multiyear expert panel member for Mentors in Law Enforcement (MILE) program, which is associated with the Sacramento State Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars (LECS) program, which is expressly designed to eliminate challenges and barriers that face diverse women and men seeking greater opportunities in law enforcement careers. Zack is a member of the public safety team for the Sacramento Region through the Sacramento Metro Chamber Capitol-to-Capitol program.

Zack was drawn to a career with SPD due to the City of Sacramento’s size and vibrant nature. Law Enforcement was another way for him to serve the community after leaving military service. The Sacramento Police Department was his choice because of the quality and high moral caliber of people that work here, along with the wide variety of assignments and potential for growth for a long-term career. He has developed lifelong relationships with those he works with and in the community he is proud and humbled to serve.

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