HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLO Police Chiefs IV
San Luis Obispo
POLICE DEPARTMENT
MARSHALS
1868-1869 Jacob J. Schiefferly (Schieffarley, Schieffiery)1
1869-1871 George W. Barnes
1871- 1873 John P. Lewelling
1873-1874 Elliot B. Major
1874-1875 John P. Lewelling
1875-1876 E. B. Major
1876-1877 Frank Grady2
1877 Archibald C. McLeod
1877-1878 Frank Grady3
1878-1879 Jacob “Jake” Bump
1879-1880 George W. Robbins
1881-1884 Thomas Turner
1884 Frank Grady
1884-1886 Henry Jewett
1886-1888 John A. Dunbar
1888-1894 Madison Graves
1894-1900 James W. Cook
1900-1910 William. G. Johnson
1910-1911 Arthur. S. Kahl4
Voters approved a city charter on September 11, 1910. After approval by the State legislature,
a new election for trustees was held on May 11, 1911 resulting in the first appointed police
chief on June 11.5
POLICE CHIEFS
1911-1924 William Frank Cook6
1924-1926 W. J. Duddleson7
1926-1927 Ernest G. Thompson
1927-1929 Fred J. Bollinger
1929-1939 Harry A. Payton
1939-1940 Don W. Parks8
1940-1948 Bernard J. Epperly9
1 also Constable: County position; 1869 deputy: David Dunbar (also Deputy Sheriff)
2 Deputy Marshal: 1873
3 appointed by Governor to fill vacated position
4 5/31/1911: requested and allowed to keep Marshal’s badge
5 Ordinance 5 (May 26, 1911) and Ordinance 7 (July 5, 1911) are two key enabling pieces of legislation.
6 May 26, 1911: Salary: $100 month; bond $1000 (error); 6/2/11: bond at $2000; 9/2/24: resigns: accepted
“with regret” (Council member Louis Sinsheimer votes “no”)
7 born in 1895; worked in agricultural department at Cal Poly at least in 1921 & 1922
8 June 2, 1941: resigns “unable to obtain release from contract” elsewhere
9 October 21, 1940: appointed Acting Chief of Police for “no more than 60 days” effective 10/16/40 ($200 month);
6/2/41: appointed Chief; 1/19/48: resigns; 3/1/48: requests 1 year leave of absence, given 6 months; 8/16/48:
requests additional 6 months LOA
1948-1949 Ralph B. Files10
1949-1954 Ralph E. Heirdon
1954-1955 William L. Burns11
1956-1966 William (Lee) Schofield12
1966-1976 Ervin Luis Rodgers13
1976-1985 Roger L. Neuman14
1985-1987 Don Englert15
Mike Dolder16
1987-2002 Jim Gardiner17
2003-2011 Deborah Linden18
2012-2015 Steve Gesell
2016- Deanna Cantrell
10 6/18/41: appointed to PD; 1/20/48: appointed Acting Chief; 3/1/48: resigns and requests return to old
position: tabled for 2 weeks (see 3/15/48 appointment of Chief); 5/20/48: appointed Chief (3-2 vote); June 6,
1949: appointed Chief (new Council); 12/5/49: suspended; 12/7/49: exonerated; 12/19/49: removed
11appointed on February 17, 1954 (effective March 1; $495 per month); lieutenant with Los Angeles Police
Department; 6/20/55: salary: Step 5: $553; 9/6/55: given additional 30 days sick leave; 10/10/55: additional
30 days leave: 10/17: surgery; November 7, 1955: resigns; R. E. Heidorn: appointed Acting Chief
(promotion to Captain)
12 appointed February 1, 1956; pay to Step 5: $553 (salary plan for police & fire chiefs); dies of heart
attack while in office
13 A 17-year veteran of the department & captain for 5, he was appointed in March. It was during his tenure
that the current facility was dedicated on July 26, 1970 at a cost of $390,413. He resigned in June 1976.
14 Neuman was appointed on December first and retired in September 1985
15 also Acting Chief from July 1 to November 30, 1976; November 5: appointed chief; retires 8/16/1987
appointed January 1
16 Supervision of both Police and Fire Departments
17 Gardiner was appointed on August 31 (13?) and retires on September 31 (December 31, 2002).
18 Appointed January 1, 2003
Joseph A. Carotenuti
jacarotenuti@gmail.com
revised: May 5, 2017