The City of Fairfax is starting to fill some key vacant positions, announcing the hiring of a new police chief and a human resources director this week.
As first reported yesterday (Wednesday) by ALXnow, Alexandria Assistant Police Chief Raul Pedroso has been selected to lead the City of Fairfax Police Department after a national search that drew “many qualified candidates,” according to the city.
“The pool of applicants was very deep, and we conducted a very robust review and selection process,” acting Fairfax City Manager Bryan Foster said today (Thursday) in a press release. “Raul rose to the top and was selected for his leadership qualities, his infectious energy, and his commitment to fairness and transparency.”
Set to officially begin his new job on Aug. 11, Pedroso will take over from Captain Natalie Hinesley, who had been serving in an acting capacity since former Fairfax City Police Chief Erin Schaible retired in early January.
Formerly a deputy chief of patrol for the Fairfax County Police Department, Schaible became the city’s first female police chief when she was hired in January 2019. Her tenure included efforts to modernize the Fairfax City department’s recruitment programs, a rollout of speed cameras in school zones and the introduction of a Community Response Team to assist with behavioral health-related calls.
The City of Fairfax Police Department was also working on a series of new security initiatives, including the addition of a community liaison officer last spring, before Schaible retired.
As her successor, Pedroso has served as assistant police chief for Alexandria City since October 2023. From February through November 2024, he filled in as Alexandria’s interim police chief, and he was in the running to assume the position permanently, though the city ultimately hired former Arlington, Texas, assistant chief Tarrick McGuire instead.
In its hiring announcement, the City of Fairfax praised Pedroso’s eight-month stint as Alexandria’s interim police chief.
“Pedroso led the department through a transformational period and strengthened relations among city leadership, police department personnel, and the community,” the city said. “Under his leadership, the department focused on crime reduction, improved investigations, and cultivating a culture of collaboration and accountability.”
A Florida native, Pedroso spent 30 years with the Coral Gables Police Department before moving to Alexandria, working his way up from patrol officer to major before facing mandatory retirement, ALXnow reported.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Florida International University. He’s also an FBI National Academy graduate and fluent Spanish speaker.
“Being selected to lead the City of Fairfax Police Department is a great honor, I am excited to get to know agency staff and to meet the city’s residents and business owners,” Pedroso said. “I look forward to continuing the department’s tradition of excellent community service.”
Fairfax City welcomes new human resources head
The City of Fairfax announced yesterday that it has hired Fatina Williams as its new human resources director “following an extensive recruitment and interview process.”
Most recently a human resources specialist focused on labor relations for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Williams started her role with Fairfax City on July 17. She succeeded Jay Kozak, who was approved by the Fairfax City Council on Sept. 10, 2024 but stepped down on March 26.
The position was filled in the interim by Fairfax City Director of Risk Management and Safety Kim Burgess, according to a city spokesperson.
In addition to working for the federal government, Williams has extensive HR experience in the U.S. Army and Air Force, according to her LinkedIn page. Her only previous job in local government, though, is as a human resources manager for Topeka in Kansas from December 2005 to May 2006.
More on Williams from Fairfax City’s announcement:
“Fatina brings a successful record of resolving complex employee relations issues, reducing turnover, and fostering a positive work environment,” City Manager Bryan Foster said. “We’re very excited she has joined our organization to fill this vital role.”
Williams has worked in human resources for the armed forces and the federal government, gaining extensive experience in employee and labor relations, talent acquisition, organizational development, and performance management. She has earned several awards for her professionalism, including the Sustained Superior Performance Award from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Williams has a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Tennessee. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and has taught in Kansas as a visiting associate professor.
“Having spent the last 16 years of my career in public service, I feel incredibly fortunate for this opportunity to work for and with the City of Fairfax community,” Williams said. “The city has a rich history of civil service, and I’m excited to be a part of its next chapter.”
Pedroso and Williams should bring some stability to Fairfax City’s leadership team, which has experienced several departures over the past year.
After just seven months on the job, City Manager Laszlo Palko was unexpectedly terminated in December — an unprecedented move for Fairfax City, Fairfax Connection reported at the time. Foster, a retired deputy city manager for the City of Manassas, was named acting city manager in February.
A search for a permanent city manager remains underway, though today is the application deadline, per an online job posting. The position, which functions as the city’s top administrator, offers an annual salary of $275,000 to $295,000.
Fairfax City Economic Development will also be on the lookout for a new leader, announcing on Tuesday (July 22) that current CEO and director Christopher Bruno will depart in late August to join New York Law School as its inaugural chief of economic development programs and strategies.
Since joining the city in 2016, Bruno has overseen the economic development agency’s expansion from just one staffer to a full operation with 12 employees. Highlights of his tenure have included the introduction of Fairfax City Restaurant Weeks and a decline in commercial vacancies in defiance of regional and national trends.
