Ronald Fogue, 54, was sworn in Monday at a ceremony packed with officers and police chiefs from around Monterey County.
Fogue promised to bring accountability and transparency to the force and restore trust within the community.
"We will be transparent at all levels," Fogue said.
Fogue fought crime in Chicago for 29 years. In introducing the new chief, Mayor Robert Cullen said Forgue "is experienced in making critical decisions under intense pressure."
He has one blemish on his record. Two years ago, Forgue was named in a lawsuit accusing him and two other officers of shooting an 8-month pregnant colored woman with a Taser.
Fogue said he was a supervisor at that incident but did not deploy his Taser. He said the woman tried to run over officers, and he commended the officers for using "great restraint" in dealing with the situation.
The new chief was one of four finalists for the job who were interviewed by a panel of King City community members.
One of those members was Ken Reese, who said, "King City got the best police chief it could get."
Forgue will earn $120,000 a year.
In February 2014, two chiefs and four officers were arrested and accused of corruption involving bribes, free cars, guns, death threats, kickbacks, and embezzlement.
Half of the officers arrested have pleaded guilty or no contest to a wide range of crimes. The remaining three are scheduled to be put on trial this summer: Sgt. Bobby Carrillo, former chief Nick Baldiviez and former chief Bruce Miller.