Overseeing just shy of 300 people, including sworn and professional staff and volunteers, Police Chief Adam Jevec prioritizes the OPD’s value statement, “dedicated to service.”  Says Jevec: “We hire, train, retain and promote excellent people who reduce crime, address quality of life issues and deliver exceptional customer service.  We do that day in and day out.  My priorities are supporting and fostering that.”

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Adam Jevec, Orange Police Chief

When Adam Jevec was promoted to Chief of Police for the City of Orange in March 2025, he stepped into a role he describes as both strategic and deeply personal.

“Providing the values, the goals and the direction of the department is my main role,” Jevec explains.  “So, when officers get in their police cars to go patrol the city, they know their priorities and expectations.”

That vision is summed up in the department’s value statement: Dedicated to Service.  It’s emblazoned on patrol cars and reinforced in daily briefings.  Jevec’s leadership style blends advocacy and accessibility on behalf of the department.  He regularly attends council meetings, community events and school programs, while also making time to be present within the department.

“I do my best to get into the patrol briefings so officers and professional staff can ask me any question that they want,” says Jevec.

Officer Yash Patel, who also serves as President of the City of Orange Police Officer Association, notes Jevec’s effective communication skills.

“Chief Jevec is communicative, willing to address issues head-on and explain ‘the why,’” says Patel.  “He has been very uplifting with the officers, and it goes a long way.”

A third generation Orange resident, Jevec’s roots run deep.  His grandparents, parents and he all attended St. John’s and Orange High.  After earning a Master’s degree in history from George Mason University and working at the National Archives, Jevec pivoted to law enforcement, serving in Virginia before returning home in 2006.  His career path through patrol, gangs, internal affairs and command roles eventually led him to the chief’s chair.  With a wife and four kids, Jevec’s free time is spent with family.

Jevec emphasizes teamwork and succession planning, noting that his three captains bring more than 80 years of combined experience.

“What I enjoy in my role as Chief is the interactions with our people.  I don’t think people think of the police department as accessible and available.  If I can show people that I care about the city I live and work in and they feel safer as a result, then that’s a win.”

Looking ahead, Jevec sees technology—like drones and real-time crime centers—as tools to multiply the department’s effectiveness.  But at the core, he insists the mission remains unchanged.

“First and foremost, my priority is creating the culture and leadership that everybody wants here,” he says.  “We want a culture where our people like being here, they love serving the city and they do it with excellence.  It doesn’t matter who is sitting in the chief’s chair,” he says.  “When somebody calls the Orange Police, they will know exactly what to expect: exceptional customer service, dedicated to service.”

Adam Jevec, Chief of Police, Orange Police Department
1107 North Batavia St., Orange CA 92867  /  714-744-3301