Officer Adrian Gutierrez, a lifelong Eastside Santa Barbara resident and 25-year veteran of the Santa Barbara Police Department, officially retired on Wednesday, July 23. Officer Gutierrez was affectionately known as the “Unofficial Mayor of the Eastside,” and became deeply rooted in the Eastside neighborhood, where he brought a new understanding to the term “community policing.”
Over his long career, Officer Gutierrez has been honored as a Santa Barbara Independent Local Hero in 2018, California Police Activities League Officer of the Year in 2020, and recipient of the H. Thomas Guerry Award for Valor — given to Gutierrez for rescuing a man from a house fire — in 2022.
His work with local youth programs and legacy building trust with the community has earned him a commendation from the city, and Officer Gutierrez is planning on continuing to work with immigrant families through Immigrant Hope.
