SUNNYVALE — Phan Ngo, a veteran San Jose police commander with over a quarter-century in law enforcement, has been tapped to serve as the next chief of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, city officials announced Monday.

Ngo, 50, who has spent the better part of the past decade as a deputy chief in all four SJPD operational bureaus, said he is relishing the task of commanding not only police but also fire services in Sunnyvale’s relatively unique integrated emergency-response model.

“It’s exciting; I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Ngo said. “My experience has always been with law enforcement, but I’m going to roll up my sleeves and learn the fire discipline part of it. I know they have a strong team on the fire side; I’ll lean on smart people there.”

Ngo was selected after Sunnyvale conducted a national search to replace outgoing Chief Frank Grgurina, who is retiring in December after a 30-year police career. Provided he passes a routine background check, Ngo is set to take over Jan. 2, with an annual salary of $215,000.

“Phan is a seasoned leader with an incredible breadth of experience which is a tremendous asset to any organization,” said City Manager Deanna Santana, who chose Ngo. “He is well-known for collaborating and achieving results, so I have deep confidence in his ability to lead our integrated public safety services.”

In a 27-year law enforcement career, entirely with SJPD, Ngo worked as patrol officer, robbery detective, hostage negotiator, patrol supervisor and commander, gang enforcement and vice unit supervisor, gang investigations commander, internal affairs commander, and deputy chief in all of the department’s major bureaus: investigation, administration, field operations and technical services.

Ngo was also notable as a champion for San Jose’s large Vietnamese population; it heartened community members to see one of their own represented in the highest ranks of the police department.

San Jose police Chief Eddie Garcia lauded Sunnyvale’s selection of Ngo.

“I’m very happy and excited for Phan as he begins his new journey. There’s always a sense of pride when command staff from the San Jose Police Department move on to lead other departments,” Garcia said. “I’ll miss Phan, but I know we will work together as county chiefs.”

Garcia was referring to a steady presence of former SJPD commanders currently serving as chiefs in the greater Bay Area. At the moment, department alumni are leading police departments in Daly City, Hayward, Piedmont, Redwood City, Monterey, San Jose State University, Sand City, Soledad, Tracy and Watsonville, and Los Gatos and Los Altos recently had SJPD veterans at the helm.

Pending a routine background check, Ngo will soon join that vaunted list, which he said has been buoyed by good community relationships with police that appeal to cities in search of new leadership.

“We’re successful because we have the support of the community,” he said. “That culture bodes well for any command officer here.”

Still, Ngo said it was “bittersweet” to leave the only department he has known.

“The San Jose Police Department has been my home for 27 years. The city has been great to my family,” he said. “It’s been a great ride. I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my life and to continue making Sunnyvale one of the safest cities in the country.”

Phan Ngo

Age: 50

Residence: Saratoga

Experience: 27 years in SJPD, most recently as deputy chief

Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from San Jose State University; master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University

Family: Married with two children