Captain Joe Engler, a fourth-generation San Franciscan, was born in the Northern District at Presbyterian Hospital and Medical Center.  He began his career with the SFPD in 1992. As a uniformed police officer and later as a sergeant, Engler was assigned to patrol the Northern, Mission and Park districts.  As a police inspector, he served in the Domestic Violence Response Unit, Night Enforcement Unit, General Work, Burglary and Homicide details.  After his promotion to lieutenant, Engler served at Tenderloin and Ingleside Stations, after which he was the officer in charge of the Muni Division, SFPD liaison to the Department of Emergency Management and the officer in charge of the SFPD Homeland Security Unit’s Operations Center.  Prior to his appointment to captain, Engler served as the officer in charge of the Traffic Collision Investigation Unit as well as the acting captain of the Traffic Division.  

A graduate of the University of California at Davis and San Francisco Law School, Engler teaches homicide investigation techniques to police officers from throughout California. He is also a member of the Administration of Justice faculty at City College of San Francisco.  Captain Engler was the commanding officer of administration within the SFPD Airport Bureau prior to assuming command of Northern Station in January 2018.

“Through community-wide collaborations and a focus on inclusion, the Northern Police District has built a reputation for hosting events that honor cultural diversity and promote the development of strong communities. From City Hall to the Superior Court; from Davies Symphony Hall to the War Memorial Opera House; from the heights of Cathedral Hill to the majestic Marina Greens, the Northern is a destination of choice for multicultural travel, and we are committed to providing the best service to everyone who visits us or lives in our district.”

- Captain Joseph Engler