Phil Collum

Background

About Phil Collum

Phil Collum currently serves as the Assistant Chief of the Chula Vista Police Department, and leads the department's Community Engagement Division. The Community Engagement Division is focused on connecting more actively with our community, and more actively with our employees. It concentrates on increasing transparency and enhancing relationships across our community, and helps the department to expand on its mission to provide community policing with the highest level of professionalism and transparency. Prior to his assignment to the Community Engagement Division, Assistant Chief Collum has led every division within the Chula Vista Police Department including the Support Operations Division (recruiting, background investigations, personnel management, and internal affairs), the Criminal Investigations Division, and the Patrol Operations Division. Assistant Chief Phil Collum began his law enforcement career as a Community Service Officer in 1990, while attending college in Santa Cruz, California. He worked as a Police Dispatcher and Reserve Police Office before being hired as a Patrol Officer in 1992. Assistant Chief Collum returned to his hometown of San Diego in October of 1994, and was hired by the Chula Vista Police Department. Over the next 15 years, Assistant Chief Collum established a reputation through his fairness and transparency, ethical professionalism and dedication to community policing. He is committed to communication and community engagement, and shares his passion for professional knowledge and technical skills. In 2009, he rose through the ranks to become the Police Department’s first African-American employee to be promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant, to Police Captain in 2018, and to Assistant Chief in 2022. Bachelor of Science (Summa Cum Laude) in Criminal Justice, California Coast University Graduate, FBI National Academy Session #278 Graduate, California POST Command College Class #58 Graduate, Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute Class #196