The City of Fairfax has hired Alexandria Assistant Police Chief Raul Pedroso to be its next chief of police, ALXnow has confirmed.
The Fairfax City Council hired Pedroso in a recent meeting, and his start date is Monday, Aug. 11.
“Chief Pedroso will begin his new role with the City of Fairfax on Monday, Aug. 11,” said Matthew Kaiser, communications director for the City of Fairfax.
Pedroso said it is a great honor to be selected for the position.
“Being selected to lead the City of Fairfax Police Department is a great honor, I am excited to get to know agency staff and to meet the city’s residents and business owners,” he said. “I look forward to continuing the department’s tradition of excellent community service.”
Fairfax City Manager Bryan Foster said that the pool of applicants was very deep.
“Raul rose to the top and was selected for his leadership qualities, his infectious energy, and his commitment to fairness and transparency,” Foster said.
Retired Sheriff Dana Lawhorne praised Pedroso.
“Chief Pedroso was a breath of fresh air for the department and for the city,” Lawhorne said. “He excelled as an assistant chief and as the interim chief of police. I’m not surprised that another jurisdiction has noticed it and chose him to be their next chief of police.”
Pedroso was hired as an assistant police chief in October 2023 and was named Interim Chief four months later, following the retirement of former Chief Don Hayes. He held the job for eight months and was in the running for the position of Alexandria police chief. In Oct. 2024, the city hired Tarrick McGuire as its police chief, and City Manager Jim Parajon commended Pedroso for his work.
“Chief Pedroso’s empathy, candor, and responsiveness exemplify the qualities we seek in senior leadership,” Parajon wrote. “We are extremely grateful for his incredible work ethic, excellent communication, and deep commitment to Alexandria.”
Pedroso was previously a major in the Coral Gables Police Department, where he worked his way up the ranks for 30 years. He speaks fluent Spanish, attended the FBI National Academy and has a master’s of science degree in criminal justice from Florida International University and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Florida, according to his LinkedIn page.
Pedroso left Coral Gables for Alexandria because he was facing mandatory retirement, he previously told ALXnow. A Florida native, he says he was inspired to pursue a career in law enforcement while working as a loss prevention officer as he studied for a Bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Fairfax City Police have been led by Interim Police Chief Natalie Hinesley since Dec. 2024, soon after former Police Chief Erin Schaible announced her retirement. Schaible was chief for five years and was previously a deputy police chief in Fairfax County.
ALXnow has reached out to APD for comment.
