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Walnut Creek Picks A New Police Chief

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Photo: City of Walnut Creek

From the City of Walnut Creek:

The City of Walnut Creek is announcing the selection of a new Chief of Police, Jamie Knox. Knox, who most recently has served as a Captain for the San Leandro Police Department, will begin with Walnut Creek on Monday, July 26.

City Manager Dan Buckshi, in announcing the hiring of Knox, noted that significant community input was solicited and helped guide the selection process. “We heard from hundreds of residents through a community survey and a town hall meeting to determine priorities and needs for our new Chief,” said Buckshi. “When it came to interviewing the final candidates, members of our independent Police Chief’s Advisory Board were among the stakeholder groups providing feedback. Among a strong candidate pool, Jamie rose to the top for us and I am excited to welcome him to our team.”

Walnut Creek Mayor Kevin Wilk is enthusiastic about the prospects for the Chief to get to know the community, and the community to get to know Chief Knox. “The pandemic forced a pause on community policing, something we value in Walnut Creek,” said Wilk. “The timing is good to again be able to get our Police Department in partnership with our residents and visitors. I’m confident Chief Knox will find Walnut Creek to be the kind of place that values his style of outreach.”

Knox began his law enforcement career as a Police Explorer and then Public Safety Dispatcher in the Placer County city of Roseville, where he grew up.  In 1996, he was hired by the nearby Rocklin Police Department as a Police Officer, serving in a wide variety of assignments and moving up the ranks before joining the Novato Police Department as a Captain in 2015. He joined the San Leandro Police Department in 2017, overseeing the Services Bureau and most recently the Operations Bureau.

“I want to thank our City Manager, Dan Buckshi, for giving me this amazing opportunity,” Knox said. “Walnut Creek has been on my radar for years as a great place to visit, and now I get to build partnerships with our community, and enable our Police team to provide the best possible public safety service. I’m excited to meet the women and men of Walnut Creek PD, and to get to know our residents.”

Knox holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Management, and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. He is a graduate of both the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston. Jamie and his husband Scott share their home with two Chihuahuas, Maddie and Rudy. A formal swearing in ceremony will be announced soon. Former Police Chief Tom Chaplin retired late last year.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Very good choice!
    Walnut Creek will benefit from having this man as there police chief.
    Hopefully the city council won’t hinder him from doing his job, like they’ve tried to do in the past.

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