Retired Police Chief Michael Crankshaw is a long time Imperial Valley resident. He is married, with a large extended family here. He has coached high school football and has served on a variety community boards.

Chief Crankshaw started his law enforcement career in 1986. After graduating the Southwestern Community College Police Academy in Chula Vista, California, he joined the El Cajon Police Department. He worked as a Reserve Police Officer until accepting a full-time Police Officer Position with the El Centro Police Department in 1988.

As a police officer, Chief Crankshaw had the opportunity to work a variety of assignments, including Patrol, Narcotics, General Investigations, Gangs, Special Enforcement unit and SWAT. In 1995 he promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he primarily worked in the Patrol, Investigations and Administration Divisions. 

In 2010, Chief Crankshaw earned his Bachelor Degree in Administration of Justice and was promoted to the rank of Police Commander. In addition to his formal police training, he is a graduate of POST’s Supervisor Leadership Institute, FBI National Academy and and LAPD - West Point Leadership program.

In 2013, Chief Crankshaw accepted a position with the City of Brawley as their new Police Chief. During his tenure with the City of Brawley he worked with both sworn and non-sworn personnel to move the Brawley Police Department.

Chief Crankshaw retired from law enforcement in 2017. Since that time, he has work as an Admin. of Justice Adjunct Professor and Law Enforcement Academy Instructor at the Imperial Valley College. In 2021 he served as Interim Director of the P.O.S.T. Academy.

Second in command of the Imperial Police Department is Capt. Max Sheffield. Capt. Sheffield began his career with the Department in 2013, after graduating from the Eureka, CA Police Academy. Capt. focused his attention on becoming a Police Officer because of his passion for public service and to promote a safe community environment for residents and businesses. During his career in law enforcement, Sheffield has served as a K9 Officer, Narcotics Detective and Public Information Officer. Prior to his career in law enforcement he was a member of Public Works Department. Sheffield is working to obtain his Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice. 

“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
– Theodore Roosevelt