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Lathrop hires first chief for stand- alone police dept.
Bechler
Bechler

Lathrop officially has a new Chief of Police.

On Thursday, the City of Lathrop announced that Raymond Bechler – who most recently oversaw the implementation of programs that provide enhanced medical and mental health services for the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office – will begin his work as the city’s first official police chief.

Lathrop’s first standalone police department is slated to begin full operations on July 1 of 2022.

“Being selected as the city of Lathrop’s first Police Chief is the greatest honor of my Law Enforcement career,” said Bechler. “I am extremely humbled and honored to serve such a family-oriented and progressive community. I look forward to establishing a hard-working, inclusive, and transparent police department focused on improving the quality of life to all who live, visit, and work in our city.”

A native of Citrus Heights, Bechler began his career in law enforcement in 1987 at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and returned to Northern California three years later to begin working at the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

This won’t be the first time that he’s helping get a new police department that had previously been under contract with the local sheriff’s department off the ground.

In 2006, Bechler left employment with Sacramento County to accept a management position with the then newly-formed Citrus Heights Police Department – where he stayed before moving to Oceanside in San Diego County in 2011 to work as a Captain before returning back to Contra Costa County in 2015.

A graduate of the FBI National Academy and The California POST Command College and possessing a master’s degree from CSU Long Beach, Bechler will immediately aid in the hiring process for commanders, sergeants, officers, and other staff that will be hired in the coming months to round out a fully-functioning police department.

A total of five candidates were interviewed for the position – going through a series of interviews with a variety of different panels – and the list was culled to three candidates that came back in for more intensive interviews with City Manager Steve Salvatore. With the council’s blessing, Salvatore ultimately made the decision as to which of the three were the best fit for the City of Lathrop – chiefly because the newly-created position will be a new department head operating under the management and guidance of the City Manager’s office.

“I have complete faith in Ray’s experience and abilities to meet the expectations and vision the community has for its own Police Department,” Salvatore said. “What impressed me most about Ray’s experience is his knowledge of both sheriff’s office and local law enforcement operations as well as his participation in a similar transitional process in the City of Citrus Heights.

“Ray will definitely be a huge asset while we are transitioning our force. Ray is a true professional, highly motivated results-oriented person with a strong work ethic and a proven track record. I am looking forward to Ray joining our team and building a department that Lathrop will be proud of for years to come.”

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.