On August 17, 2007, the AOCDS Board of Directors named Sergeant Mark Nichols, president of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA), their new General Manager.  Nichols replaced Robert J. MacLeod, who retired from AOCDS in February of 2007 after a remarkable career spanning 28 years.  Nichols assumed his position on September 7, 2007.

 After graduating honors in 1987 from the Orange County Sheriff’s Academy (Class #87), Nichols worked in the field as a patrol officer.  He later worked a variety of assignments including the crimes against persons unit, the homicide detail and the street gang homicide team.  In 1999, he was promoted to the rank of police sergeant.  Sergeant Nichols retired from the Santa Ana Police Department after 20 years of service to the community and to the men and women of the Santa Ana Police Department.

 Since 1994, Nichols has either been a member of or chaired the Contract Negotiations Committee for the SAPOA.  As president of the SAPOA he represented approximately 550 sworn and non-sworn association members employed by the Santa Ana Police Department.  His record of accomplishments and his personal commitment to provide the best pay, benefits and working conditions for his members are well known in the law enforcement labor community.  While other municipalities and counties are struggling with a shrinking pool of qualified police and deputy sheriff candidates, his successes have allowed the city of Santa Ana to aggressively recruit and retain some of the best law enforcement officers in the region.

 Nichols has 11 years experience as a member of the SAPOA Political Action Committee.  For the past nine years he has chaired the SAPOA Employee Health Benefits Trust as well as the Widow’s and Orphan’s Committee.  He remains the president of the California Peace Officer’s Memorial Foundation and the vice president of the California State Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge.  He was the past chairman of the State Affiliated Cops Political Action Committee, vice president of the Southern California Alliance of Law2 Enforcement Associations and chairman of the Orange County Coalition of Police and Sheriffs.

 The old saying of “baptism by fire” certainly fits Nichols first few months as AOCDS’ General Manager.  He left a very secure position at SAPOA where he had three years left on a great contract and was immediately faced with an association that was nearing 11 months without a contract.  Additionally, he was confronted with a July 2007 Board of Supervisor announcement that AOCDS would be sued regarding their pension benefits.  Nichols has made an immediate positive impact as is evident by our three year contract.  The Board of Directors is proud to have Nichols as our new general manager and we know the membership will be too.