James Rayls was officially sworn in on May 13 as Canyon Lake’s first chief of police and the department’s first sworn officer. With his wife by his side and his friends and family in the audience, Rayls was sworn in by Riverside County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Andrew Elia.
The swearing-in ceremony marked a major milestone for Canyon Lake as the city prepares to transition to its own police department in early August.
Family, friends, city and local officials, local law enforcement, and community members gathered to witness the occasion and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in the city’s public safety.
In addition to city recognition, Rayls was presented with certificates from the offices of Senator Kelly Seyarto and Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel.
City Manager Arron Brown presented Rayls with a commemorative challenge coin. One side is engraved with “Canyon Lake Police Department Established 2026,” while the other side features “Canyon Lake Fire Department Established 2022.”
Rayls comes to Canyon Lake with nearly three decades of experience. In September 2025, he retired from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Station, where he served as the chief law enforcement officer.
A graduate of California Baptist University, Rayls earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1995 before beginning his law enforcement career with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in April 1996.
Rayls started in corrections, serving until 2000 before transferring to the Lake Elsinore Station. There, he worked patrol operations, the Special Enforcement Team, lake patrol operations, and off-road vehicle enforcement.
In 2005, Rayls was promoted to sheriff’s investigator at the Lake Elsinore Station, handling cases involving person crimes, sex crimes, and infant deaths.
In 2007, Rayls was promoted to sheriff’s sergeant and returned to corrections, where he established the first Gang Investigations Unit.
Rayls transferred to the Moreno Valley Station in 2010, where he worked patrol operations, administration, and supervised the investigations bureau. He also oversaw the Riverside University Health System hospital contract and played a key role in planning and implementing the citywide camera system.
By 2017, Rayles had been promoted to lieutenant at the Southwest Station, managing the City of Temecula contract, patrol operations, the investigations bureau, traffic bureau, and administration. He also assisted with planning and implementing Temecula’s citywide camera system.
Rayls returned to the Lake Elsinore Station in 2020 and managed the City of Canyon Lake and City of Lake Elsinore contracts. His promotion to captain came in 2022, officially making him the chief law enforcement officer for Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, and Wildomar, the county areas of Temescal Canyon, Warm Springs, Lakeland Village, El Cariso, Tenaja, and La Cresta, and the Lake Elsinore School District contract.
