KING CITY — King City welcomed its newest police addition, Officer Jace Bernal, on April 3 in the City Hall Chambers.
Bernal is native to Monterey County, having been born in the city of Monterey. He lived in King City until he was 12 years old and South County for most of his life. Bernal said he is familiar with the area and chose King City to work and help the area that he knows.
Bernal, a graduate of Monterey Peninsula College police academy, has been with the National Guard since 2014.
“I started in law enforcement because it’s what my dad did,” Bernal said. “I was 4 years old when he started and was surrounded by it my whole life. I met a lot of people in the profession and they showed me the ropes and I decided it was what I wanted to do.”
He is the son of Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal, but the family pull toward law enforcement goes back to his maternal grandfather, Richard Crocker, who was a sergeant with the Salinas Police Department, and great-grandfather Phil Crocker, a retired King City Police Chief in the 1950 to 1960s era.
“I’m excited to start working in King City,” Jace Bernal said. “A little nervous, but I’m excited. I have a lot of people who
are willing to help me out or give me advice.”
Jace Bernal will begin a 16-week Field Training Program with Field Training Officer Joey Perez before being assigned to solo patrol.
