Palm Springs police chief signals departure, puts home on market as he eyes ‘next mission’
Andy Mills says he is neither resigning nor retiring, but is preparing for a transition as he readies the department for its next chapter.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills announced on his social media pages Thursday that he and his wife are preparing to leave the community, putting their home up for sale as he looks toward what he describes as his “next mission.”
Mills said the move is not a resignation or retirement, but rather a deliberate step toward transition while he positions the department for what comes next. He came to Palm Springs in 2021 from Santa Cruz, where he had led that police department starting in 2017. Before Santa Cruz, he served four years as chief of police in Eureka.
Local reporting and journalism you can count on.
Subscribe to The Palm Springs Post
“I am not resigning or retiring; rather, I am preparing the department for the immediate next steps,” Mills wrote in the statement.
Mills credited the leadership team he has built during his tenure, describing his successors as “compassionate and strong leaders” who are prepared to carry the department forward.
“They are the best the profession has to offer,” he wrote. “They have my full confidence, and I have told the city manager and Council that.”
The chief pointed to crime reduction, improved quality of life, and a fully staffed department as markers of progress during his time leading PSPD.
Mills also praised City Manager Scott Stiles and members of the City Council for their support, calling their level of advocacy rare.
“Believe me, it is rare to find this level of advocacy by an elected team,” he wrote.
Mills said he and his wife, Cathy, have received strong support from both the department and the broader Palm Springs community, which he described as making the decision difficult.
“Because of the great friends we’ve made and the love and support you’ve shown daily, this has been a tough decision,” he wrote. “But now is the time.”
Mills said he and Cathy plan to remain open with the public as the situation develops, signing off with a pledge to always support PSPD and the Palm Springs community.
Author
Related Articles
Palm Springs’ new wildfire safety status could mean savings for homeowners
The city’s designation from the state fire board may boost its odds at mitigation grants and help residents see lower insurance costs, though officials caution outcomes aren’t guaranteed.
Historic site board backs demolition of a portion of Town and Country Center to make way for new Palm Springs fire station
The board greenlit the removal of two vacant buildings on North Indian Canyon Drive for a new Fire Station No. 1., though final plans have not yet been approved.
Palm Springs Cultural Center assessing damage after Saturday night roof fire
A cafe sustained the worst of the damage, while the lobby and Theatre One appear largely unaffected; a reopening timeline has not yet been determined.