Commissioner

The CHP is led by the Commissioner, who is appointed by the Governor of California. The Deputy Commissioner is also appointed by the Governor and the Assistant Commissioners are appointed by the Commissioner.

Although the Commissioner was never named in any episode of "CHiPs", Glen B. Craig was thanked in the credits for each episode (except for "Return of the Brat Patrol", in which his successor, James E. Smith, was thanked).

In "CHiPs" '99, Joseph Getraer, the former sergeant from the series, appeared as the CHP Commissioner. In the credits, Spike Helmick was thanked for his cooperation.

In 2004 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Mike Brown as CHP Commissioner, succeeding Dwight O. "Spike" Helmick.