Palm Springs selected Tuesday its first Latino police chief - a man with 28 years of experience in law enforcement known for his expertise and ability to build support within a community.

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David G. Dominguez, four-year deputy chief of police with the Riverside Police Department, was chosen to replace current Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron, who is retiring this month.

Palm Springs City Manager David Ready said he will submit an employment contract to the City Council on Dec. 19.

If approved, Dominguez is expected to begin duties Feb. 4.

"The final decision was based on a good community fit," Ready said. Dominguez "brings outreach to the community, community policing skills and expertise. I believe he can become part of the Palm Springs family."

Dominguez, 52, said part of the reason he was interested in coming to Palm Springs was the department's great reputation.

He also knows other Coachella Valley officers and chiefs and works with the county on a regular basis.

Jeandron said the Palm Springs department has a good relationship with the community and he hopes Dominguez will continue that.

"That's one of the things we were all impressed with," Jeandron added. "He came across as very involved."

Dominguez will be the city's 12th police chief and first Latino to hold the post. Race was not part of the decision-making process, Ready said.

"He is clearly the top candidate," Ready added.

"We were not thinking about diversity in hiring, but it is indeed a bonus to have diversity in the workplace."

Riverside Police Chief Russ Leach said Dominguez has served in the department in operations and administrative duties. He said he is well-rounded going into the Palm Springs position and has the community outreach experience the city is looking for.

"He is a good representative of our profession," Leach added.

Jeandron said Dominguez has a history of reaching out to groups that are "anti-police" and creating relationships with them.

Dominguez and his family will relocate to Palm Springs. He and his wife, Rosella, have three children: Christina, 16, Jessica, 15, and Dominic, 11. He has been coaching them in many youth sports and hopes to continue that once he gets settled in Palm Springs.

Jeandron said Dominguez will face challenges in Palm Springs that he is used to dealing with in Riverside.

"Technology is changing, and he will come into that," he said. "There's also staffing and recruiting that are issues" the Riverside Police Department faces.

Riverside and Palm Springs are looking for qualified officers, Jeandron said.

Dominguez said he looks forward to coming to Palm Springs and assessing the organization by meeting the employees and spending time in the department.

While Dominguez is in his 50s, Ready said he in not planning to retire anytime soon.

"He's a puppy," Ready said. "Fifty is the new 30."

Ready said Dominguez's age makes him ideal because he has had almost 30 years experience in law enforcement.

"I wake up every day still passionate about what I do," Dominguez said, adding that he plans on giving Palm Springs many more years before considering retirement.

Dominguez's position as deputy chief has included overseeing a department with an $89 million budget and 600 sworn and civilian positions.

He has worked on the department's strategic plan, a regional gang task force and gang injunction program and a mental health crisis training intervention and Crisis Intervention Response Team.

Jeandron is set to retire Dec. 31. Ready said he will appoint Capt. Mike Hall as interim chief until Dominguez begins Feb. 4.

"It's becoming very real," Jeandron said of his upcoming retirement.

"You go to retirement parties and Christmas parties and start saying goodbyes."

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David