Robert Paoletti (Photo courtesy California Army National Guard)
City Manager Kurt Starman today announced the appointment of Robert Paoletti, a Captain with the Stockton (California) Police Department, as Redding Chief of Police. He replaces Peter Hansen, who will retire as chief on November 14.
Paoletti, 41, is an 18-year veteran of the Stockton Police Department, serving in various roles from traffic officer to his current position of Captain. In that role, he oversees all of Patrol Services, encompassing 180 sworn personnel and 40 civilian employees. He also has extensive military experience through the California Army National Guard, serving two tours of duty as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The new Chief was chosen following a national search that attracted 24 highly qualified candidates nationwide. Qualified candidates were formally interviewed by a four-person oral board as well as a separate panel of community leaders. Among those on the panel were: Tom Bosenko, Shasta County Sheriff; Jean King, Shasta Women’s Refuge Executive Director; Brad LaCroix, President of the Redding Peace Officers’ Association; Josh Lowery, Shasta County Chief Deputy District Attorney; Mike Stuart, Gateway Unified School District Superintendent; and Amelia Ward, Executive Director of the Northern Hispanic Latino Coalition.
Paoletti will begin work in Redding on November 7, allowing him to work with Chief Hansen briefly before his retirement.
“Robert Paoletti is an excellent addition to the City of Redding’s leadership team,” said City Manager Starman. “His experience with the Stockton Police Department and the California Army National Guard make him a great fit for the Redding Police Department and our community. He will be an outstanding Chief of Police.”
Paoletti began his career in Stockton in 1993 in Patrol, and then served as a Traffic Officer, while concurrently serving on the Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2001, and Lieutenant and Watch Commander in 2003. As a District Commander, he helped coordinate community policing efforts in one of Stockton’s six districts. He worked with community members to help reduce crime by 20 percent in one area neighborhood. He became Traffic Commander in 2007, overseeing traffic enforcement and special events, accident investigation, DUI enforcement and other duties. He has been Captain and North Division Commander since 2008.
Paoletti has extensive military experience, serving in the California Army National Guard since 1990. He has been a commissioned officer since 1994 and served 17- and 13-month tours of duty in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Shortly after the September 11, 2001, attack he was deployed for eight months to coordinate security operations at San Francisco International Airport.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, Paoletti currently serves as the Operations Officer of the 49th Military Police Brigade based in Fairfield, California. He is responsible for the training, planning, operations and battle tracking of the Brigade, and coordinates the Homeland Response Force for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IX, covering California, Nevada and Arizona. He is the recipient of numerous military awards and commendations, including two Bronze Star Medals.
Paoletti earned a bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College in Albany, New York, and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University. He has undergone extensive training through the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST).
“I am truly honored to be selected as the new Chief of Police of the City of Redding. My family and I look forward to a long relationship with the City, the Police Department and the citizens of Redding. We look forward to making Redding our home.”
As Chief, Paoletti will oversee a department of 98 sworn officers and 53 non-sworn personnel (part-time and full-time), with an annual budget of approximately $24 million. His annual base salary will be $159,120.
-from press release
A News Cafe, founded in Shasta County by Redding, CA journalist Doni Greenberg, is the place for people craving local Northern California news, commentary, food, arts and entertainment. Views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of anewscafe.com.
