Captain Tracy Avelar Selected as Next Police Chief

For Immediate Release: August 16, 2019
Contact: Jennifer Phan, Principal Management Analyst, (650) 286-3223, jphan@fostercity.org 

Foster City’s City Manager Jeff Moneda announced the appointment of Foster City’s Captain Tracy Avelar as Foster City’s newest Police Chief, effective November 14, 2019.  The recruitment process was an extensive process with several interview panels, followed by a second day of interviews.  Captain Avelar will replace retiring Police Chief, Joe Pierucci, who has served as Police Chief since 2016, and will retire on his birthday on November 13, 2019.  

Avelar is a 17-year veteran of the Foster City Police Department and has served as one of the 2 Police Captains of the department for the past 4 years. She grew up in Daly City, obtained her Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice Management from Union Institute and University in 2012 and obtained her Masters Degree in 2017 from Naval Postgraduate School. Captain Avelar has collaborated on regional efforts with allied police agencies at a command staff level in San Mateo County to reduce costs and provide a higher level of service. 

Avelar now lives in Dublin with her husband Tony and their children, Gabriella and Adrianna. Avelar’s adult children Daryle, a Navy veteran, and Hunter, a Boise State graduate, are living on their own. Avelar’s in-laws are 43-year residents of Foster City, which is what brought her to apply with the Foster City Police Department many years ago. Avelar was extremely proud to be considered for the role of Police Chief. She said, “The men and women of the Foster City Police Department are true professionals with an unending desire to serve. I am honored and excited to be selected to lead this agency and build on our tradition of serving Foster City through community partnerships and engagement.”

According to City Manager Jeff Moneda, “Captain Avelar displays excellent work ethics, integrity, collaborative skills, and vision for the next generation of our community. I am confident that she will do well and succeed in her new role as Police Chief and fit very well with the team.  I look forward to working with her in her new capacity for many years to come.”

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