An Interview with Assistant Police Chief Kevin Moscuzza

How many years have you served with the Milpitas Police Department?

I have about 24 and a half years of service. I was hired in February of 1995.

What different positions have you held throughout the years?

I have been fortunate to have served in a variety of roles. I have served as an officer in patrol responding to a variety of calls for service, and for the Special Investigations Unit, where my primary focus was pimping and pandering and auto-theft cases. 

In 2006, I was promoted to Sergeant and I served in the following roles as a Sergeant: Patrol Sergeant, Traffic Sergeant, Sexual Assault Detective Sergeant, and Administrative Sergeant. 

In 2014, I was promoted to Lieutenant and remained in patrol until I was promoted to Captain in January 2018. As a Captain, I managed the Technical Services Division, which oversees Dispatch and Records, until I was transferred to Field Services Division and Managed Patrol and Traffic. In January of 2019, I was promoted to Assistant Police Chief.  

I have also held the following ancillary assignments during my career:  Field Training Officer, SWAT Team member/supervisor, Chemical Agent Instructor, Polygraph Examiner, Mobile Field Force member/supervisor, Specialty Impact Munitions Instructor, Distraction Device Instructor

I also thought it may be relevant to include my education which is as follows:

B.A. degree in Public Administration, Chico State University, Chico, Ca. 1993.

FBI National Academy Graduate 2017, class 268

 What makes the community in Milpitas a special place to serve? 

The first thing that came to my mind in response to this question was the mutual and respectful relationship between this community and law enforcement. We work very hard to maintain values and standards to provide professional quality service that will continue to foster a strong relationship with our community. My second thought that makes the Milpitas community a great place to serve is the diversity of our community. I believe Milpitas is one of the most diverse communities in the Bay Area that is comprised of different cultures and backgrounds. This diversity of cultures has enriched my life by providing greater understanding, and helped develop my character as a person…and I am thankful for it. 

 What is the most challenging thing about your job?

I think I am most challenged with the constant evaluation and efficiency of police services. There are many days that I wonder, What am I missing?  How can we be better? Although I truly believe our staff is one of the most efficient and highly trained departments in the Bay Area, I am still looking for ways to provide better service and not become complacent. 

What do you love most about your job? 

I love the interaction with our community members. Every day that I interact with the community provides me an opportunity to learn more about our community. Regardless if the interaction is a compliment or a complaint, it provides me with the opportunity to make adjustments, provide feedback, and understand community needs. 

Can you share something fascinating about your job that most people might not be aware of?

Police work has been the most adventurous and rewarding career I could have ever endeavored. The Milpitas Police Department responds to situations where some people are having the worst day of their life and we get the opportunity to impact their lives in a positive fashion, or at least help them through those difficult moments. Oftentimes we will not understand the totality of the impact we had with someone until we see them years later, and they discuss how that interaction changed their life. I am always fascinated by those interactions and it keeps me motivated through the difficult moments of law enforcement.