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Redding has a new police chief
Redding veteran law enforcement officer Peter T. Hansen is the new chief of police.
He replaces Leonard Moty, who retired in early October.
Hansen, 51, began with RPD 25 years ago as a patrol officer, rising through the ranks to become captain six years ago.
Hansen will begin his new duties on Nov. 3, City Manager Kurt Starman said.
As chief, Hansen will oversee a department of 118 sworn officers and 74 non-sworn personnel (part-time and full-time), with an annual budget of more than $26.3 million. His annual salary will be $138,000.
He was chosen as chief following a nationwide search that attracted 18 applicants from throughout the country. Qualified candidates were formally interviewed by a three-person oral board as well as a separate panel of community leaders.
Among those on the panel were: Tom Armelino, Shasta County Superintendent of Schools, Greg Balkovek, President-elect of the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce, Jerry Benito, Shasta County District Attorney, Fran Brady, President of Shasta County Citizens Against Racism, Callie Froese, president of the Youth Action Council, Pastor Dave Honey, Chief Administrative Officer of the Good News Rescue Mission, Maggie John, Executive Director of the Shasta Women’s Refuge, Brad LaCroix, President of the Redding Peace Officers Association, Charlie Menoher, Executive Director of the Youth Violence Prevention Council, and Greg Wrigley, Shasta County Undersheriff.
Hansen joined RPD after serving as a deputy sheriff in Riverside County. At RPD he served as a patrol officer (1983-1988), investigator (1988-1991), patrol corporal (1991-1993), patrol sergeant (1993-1996), and sergeant supervising the Investigations Division (1996-2001). He was promoted to lieutenant in 2002 and assigned to the Patrol Division as watch commander. He was promoted to captain later that year, first overseeing Field Operations and, most recently, Investigations.
Hansen earned his bachelor’s degree at San Francisco State University and has trained with the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, including the POST Command College. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity to serve the community. I appreciate the support
from the community and members of the department, and the confidence Kurt Starman has
shown in me,” Hansen said.
1,292 views
Yea!! Of course I’m prejudiced a bit.
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Nationwide search? Oh please. We all knew the City was never going to choose someone from outside the “family”. I hope the additional money that was spent in order to say they conducted “a nationwide search” came out of the PR budget - since that is all it was. -Matt
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OMG! I really NEEDED to hear some good news lately!!
I served for six years as a Board Member and Public Affairs Officer for the Northern California Hispanic Latino Coalition. Peter Hansen took over that position as PAO for the past two years and made significant strides for that magnificent organization. I know first hand the heart, sensibility and character this good man brings to the whole of our community. As a Developmental Assets Trainer, Chemical Dependency Counselor, Prevention Specialist and Parenting Educator with the Shasta County Chemical People for nearly a decade now, on many levels I really got to know and truly respect the cut of Peter Hansen’s jib.
With respect, I am sorry to infer from Matt’s missive that he may feel so apparently bitter about this appointment. Perhaps he has an understandable complaint; ours is a community long rife with hypocrisy, nepotism, organized dysfunction and institutionalized laziness.
But I have to go on the record here, and offer that no other candidate in the whole of this U.S. of-by-God America could be a better fit. In spite of the obvious and many missteps of our local good-ol’ boy networks. The good news here, is that we also have much for which to be thankful in our community - and in a BIG way! And I for one, Matt, who has felt the deep bitterness and significant loss at the hands of those locals in various forms of power who rationalize - and even theologize - indulgence and bigotry… we are a safer community for this appointment and I feel very thankful that we have Chief Peter Hansen at the helm of RPD.
Alan Ernesto Phillips
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Congratulations to Pete, and to the panel on what I’m sure was a difficult choice.
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Good to have a Chief who has served this community for so long. He certainly seems to have a lot of experience. Good luck to the new “Chief”!
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M. Grant - The panel had narrowed down the applicant pool to two candidates, with final interviews last week. The two were Captain Hansen, and another individual who is a Captain in the Seattle Police Department. So, your comment about the lack of a “nationwide search” is incorrect. Clearly all qualified candidates were considered.
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WYS - Do you actually read what I write or what you think I write? I never said they didn’t go through the motions of a “national search”, I said that they need not have bothered. I can’t speak to the others on the committee, but didn’t Charlie Menoher head the Police Facility Committee that recommended a sales tax hike - just like the City Manager wanted him to?
Please don’t misunderstand me, Peter Hanson is probably the best fit for this position and I do wish him well, it is just unfortunate that his selection was linked to such a disingenuous process. -Matt
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Congratulations Captain Peter Hansen. You deserved and earned this promotion and I am very happy for you!
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What great news. Peter was by far THE BEST man for the job. Congratulations Chief Hansen. To echo Alan’s words, we are a safer community for this appointment.
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