Martinez is expected to name Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White as its new police chief next week.
The City Council still needs to formally approve White’s hiring at its meeting next Wednesday, but it’s expected to be a formality as the city issued a statement about White’s hiring on Thursday.
The city said White’s will begin his new job Jan. 3.
White has been Clearlake’s Chief of Police since 2018. He also served as Clearlake’s acting finance director for a year. White serves on California’s 911 Advisory Board as an appointee of Gov. Gavin Newsom and represents the California Peace Officers Association on the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System Advisory Committee.
White has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and information technology and graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.
White’s annual salary as police chief will be $238,771.
White was an instructor in the basic police and dispatch academies at Napa Valley College for 15 years.
White worked his way up the Suisun City Police Department for 16 years before leaving for Clearlake in 2018. He began his career as a police cadet then dispatcher at the Napa Police Department.
“Andrew White is absolutely the best choice to lead our police department and strengthen its community partnerships,” Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder said in a statement. “His breadth of public safety experience at the local and state levels, combined with his knowledge of municipal finance and other essential management skills, will provide our community with a proven leader.”
White replaces former Chief Manjit Sappal, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
Did we run this by the Office of Equity and Inclusion? Person seems well qualified but does that matter?
He looks so young to have such an established resume.
Did he ever work as a Patrol Officer on the street?
rumor has it he did a minimal amount of street time; maybe a year, in Suisun. Because of his computer savy… was the chosen one and rose up the ranks quickly.
No, he served more than a year on patrol in Suisun City. He was very computer savy. He worked patrol for about 8 years as an officer and a patrol sergeant while holding a collateral assignment as the departments IT admistrator.
I hear Suisun can be a tough town… so, credit to him….
Does Black lives matter know that they picked A White?
he still looks like a cadet, I hope he’s aware of who the DA is in this county.
Are his parents going to right him a note to be away from school.
Back in the day it was all starting at the bottom, working your way up, sitting in all the seats, AND spending lots of time in the tough streets and paying your dues and learning the business.
Now it’s about taking all the classes, getting a degree from some online diploma mill, checking all the boxes and impressing the gullible politicians.
I know. I was there and saw it.
@Cautiously- Almost agree 100% with you, where we differ is not all have degrees from mills many actually have gone to legitimate institutions. LE has changed and what the public wants and expects has as well. Is it for the better I don’t know but the old way was far from perfect. Retired 7 yrs now and when I started some 30 yrs ago yes you had to work multiple assignments, in the more challenging areas and perform but even that didn’t guarantee those promoted were good leaders. Often it was attending social/political events so the brass knew you and was always a big plus if you served in one of the 4 branches prior. Saw many good people get passed over who didn’t play the game.
Not sure which is better, the new school or old, a lot of the old school stuff isn’t acceptable anymore but at the same time the new wave doesn’t seem to be getting the job done. Just glad I’m retired!
RIPLEY,
Good points. Yes, these are different times. And yes, you are right regarding the education part. But, It’s good thing to come up through a department – starting at the bottom, and promoting upwards. One knows the department thoroughly, knows the operations, the area that’s covered, and knows coworkers, and even the community. I saw people come from elsewhere and walk into top positions that did have that knowledge and experience. But, I’m sure you know and seen that, as well.
And you so right about many good people getting passed over – Those that didn’t play the politics game or who just didn’t test well.