A police captain with nearly a quarter-century’s law enforcement experience will serve as Murrieta’s new police chief when the current one steps down at the end of the year, it was announced Thursday.
Murrieta police Capt. Matt Henry was selected by City Manager Kim Summers to fill the slot that the city’s current top cop, Anthony “Tony” Conrad, will be leaving when he retires, effective Dec. 30.
“Capt. Henry has a wide range of law enforcement experience within our police department,” Summers said. “He has shown his ability to effectively manage and build relationships, not only within the department but at City Hall. I know he will foster those same relationships with the community in his new role as police chief.”
Conrad agreed with the selection, saying he’d worked closely with Henry for four years.
“He was the first captain I promoted when I was appointed as chief,” Conrad said. “He places a strong emphasis on building trust with staff and officers. I know that he will lead this department with professionalism and integrity.”
Henry, a father of four, has been with the department since 2005, after roughly five years with the San Diego Police Department. Like Conrad, he was a lateral transfer — a sworn peace officer who applied to fill MPD’s ranks after already working elsewhere in law enforcement.
Murrieta police Chief Tony Conrad announced that he will retire at the end of 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Murrieta Police Department)
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As a Murrieta policeman, the incoming chief worked patrol assignments, SWAT, internal affairs and administration.
“Henry spent the last four years … managing both the operations and support sides of the department,” according to a city statement.
Conrad started his career close to 30 years ago and took the helm at MPD in December 2020.
The career lawman wore a number of hats in the agency, serving in patrol, investigations, SWAT, administration and communications, where he was the principal public information officer interacting with media for years. During his time in that role, Conrad was among the most responsive law enforcement PIOs countywide.
