Marc Shaw
Marc Shaw
Chief, Enforcement Division
Chief Marc Shaw brings over 30 years of state government experience in law enforcement and regulatory compliance, with assignments throughout California. Chief Shaw has extensive experience in both field and administrative assignments, including supervising, managing, and conducting administrative and criminal investigations.
His law enforcement career began as a youth volunteer and civilian dispatcher prior to being commissioned to the California Highway Patrol Academy in 1994. Throughout his career, Mr. Shaw served in other notable assignments, including a tour at the State Capitol, where his team was responsible for security of the Capitol and surrounding grounds, as well as nearly 400 state facilities throughout downtown Sacramento. He oversaw several specialty units, including the Mounted Patrol Unit, Bicycle Patrol Unit and the Department’s Hazardous Devices Detail. Mr. Shaw worked very closely with the Senate and Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms, as well as members of the Governor’s office to protect visitors and staff alike.
As a commander, Mr. Shaw was responsible for the Department’s telecommunications infrastructure for two years before assuming command of a large metropolitan patrol station in southern California. He forged strong relationships with community leaders, elected officials and other members of the public safety community. Mr. Shaw was appointed by the State Attorney General to serve on the CLETS Advisory Committee in 2011 and maintained that assignment until 2019.
Mr. Shaw was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief in 2013 and spent the next six years overseeing a variety of patrol and specialty commands throughout southern California, from heavily populated metropolitan areas to desolate regions of the Eastern Sierra. Mr. Shaw served as Tactical Commander of the Special Response Team and his experience in civil disturbance and crowd management is solidified through FEMA certified training and numerous deployments, including the 2016 Presidential Election Protests.
After his successful career at the CHP, Mr. Shaw joined the California Department of Food and Agriculture, where he served as their Assistant Chief, overseeing the Compliance and Enforcement Unit. He worked closely with industry leaders and stakeholders and served as a liaison to the Rendering Industry Advisory Board.
On October 1, 2022, Marc Shaw was appointed as the California Horse Racing Board’s chief law enforcement officer. In his new role as the Chief of the Enforcement and Licensing Divisions, he is responsible for ensuring the integrity, viability, and safety of those involved in the California horse racing industry.
Chief Shaw holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from Saint Mary’s College and a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a graduate of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Command College and served multiple terms on the Board of Directors for the California Peace Officers’ Association, including a role as 3rd Vice President and two terms as Treasurer.