Jodie Estarziau — Manteca’s first woman police chief — is the 12th Assembly District Women of the Year as honored by Assemblyman Heath Flora.
 “I am proud to recognize Chief Estarziau for her continued service to the residents of Manteca and San Joaquin County and I am pleased she was able to join us in Sacramento today,” remarked Assemblyman Heath Flora.  “Estarziau is originally from my hometown of Ripon so I’m doubly proud to recognize her as the 2018 Woman of the Year for the 12th Assembly District.”
Estarziau, 42, was appointed chief just over a year ago with the retirement of Chief Nick Obligacion.
She was recognized for working her way up through the ranks of the male dominated police department to become the top cop in Manteca.  Estarziau began her career in the student Explorers program at 16 – only the second cadet to become chief. She then worked as a police dispatcher both in Ripon and in Manteca before becoming an officer.
She was a member of the hostage negotiations team, a field training officer and a member of the mounted patrol with her horse Stanley.  She was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2008 and in 2011 she was elevated to the position of administrative sergeant and lieutenant in 2016. 
 “I am honored to receive this official recognition from the Assembly,” Estarziau said. “Serving my community has been a lifelong passion of mine and it was so inspiring to meet other women from around the state who share my passion for service.” 
“We’ve added new technology in the department to make the officers safer on the job and outfitted 17 patrol vehicles with backup cameras to underscore that safety element,” she noted. 
“I want to support my staff in any way that I can,” she said.  “I’m asking for additions in the budget to provide more appropriate supervision and improved data systems for the officers.”
The department is currently seeing the advent of the “New World Upgrade” for the computer assisted CAD system and the mobile system for the police cars.  They are hoping to streamline operations and become even more efficient, she said.
Under her direction the department implemented its first Citizens Academy this year since 2004.
The Junior Police Academy is set for July 16 to 20 for students in the sixth to eighth grades and The Junior CSI Academy for students in the fourth and fifth grades will be held the week of June 11. Officers April Smith and Garret Morrison have been reading to children at the Manteca Library during their Story Hours as well as at several elementary schools.
Estarziau said she has welcomed the Neighborhood Watch representatives in Manteca to register their websites and residents with home and business mounted video cameras that can catch car and home thieves in the act.  She also made note of the Town Hall meeting her department held in the City Council chambers recently for citizens needing to know more about the homeless situation in the community.
She also pointed out that a team of officers through a Business Watch program have met with nearly 100 of the business and professional proprietors in a four-square block area of the downtown central district to hear their challenges and attempt to provide solutions.
She said it was a huge development in going on a Face Book page along with the Police Department’s inclusion on the City of Manteca’s website where residents can enjoy even more transparency and actually view the police department’s policy manual.
Estarziau and her husband Jeremy have been married for the past 11 years.  They have two children, Brandon, 8 and Brooke 5.  She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading and horseback riding. 

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.