|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Capt. Becky Chestnut with the San Ramon Police Department is set to take on a new role as the department’s chief next month, according to an announcement from the city Monday.
“Becky Chestnut’s deep understanding of our city and its values makes her the ideal choice for Chief of Police,” said City Manager Steven Spedowfski in the statement. “Her leadership and commitment to our residents will be of great benefit to our community.”
Chestnut will officially take the reins Dec. 15, bringing her more than two decades of experience in law enforcement to the position, officials said.
“It’s an honor to serve the San Ramon community and to lead the dedicated men and women of this Police Department,” Chestnut said in the city’s announcement. “And I am committed to supporting our employees so they can continue providing exceptional service and maintaining the community’s trust.”
Chestnut is succeeding Denton Carlson who announced his retirement in September after serving 18 years total with SRPD and three as chief.
Chestnut first joined SRPD in 2015, serving as an officer in the patrol and community resource and crime prevention divisions. In November 2016, she was promoted to police corporal in the community resource and crime prevention division, where she supported SRPD’s popular community academy, social media outreach, the department’s volunteer program and Mental Health Follow-Up Project.
In March 2019, Chestnut was bumped up to police sergeant, where she served on the patrol division, then the professional standards division. She was part of recruiting and hiring more than 30 officers, conducted internal affairs investigations, served as the department training coordinator and managed the field training officer program.
Chestnut was instrumental in forming SRPD’s Peer Support Program and served on the board for the SRPD Police Officers Association from 2016–2021, according to city officials.
Continuing to climb the ranks, Chestnut was promoted to police lieutenant in May 2022. She spent nine months as watch commander for the patrol division, then moved to the investigations division, where her duties included oversight of the youth services/school resource officers and facilitation of the San Ramon Valley Fire Behavioral Health Project.
Chestnut moved up again to police captain, overseeing the administrative services division, in July 2023. Management duties included the professional standards and training, community resource and crime prevention, evidence and property, records and finance divisions.
Prior to joining SRPD, Chestnut served as a law enforcement officer with the Contra Costa County Sherriff’s Office from December 2002 to May 2015, where she held a number of roles, including in detention facilities, patrol, and investigations (homicide and sexual assault units) until 2015.
Chestnut holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Union Institute and University, and a master’s degree in leadership communication from Purdue University.
