Scotts Valley Police Chief Steve Walpole plans to retire at the end of the month after 30 years of service in law enforcement, including more than eight years at the helm of the local police department.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the police chief for the city I call home,” Walpole said in a news release. Walpole’s last day is Oct. 30, when Cpt. Jayson Rutherford will assume the role of interim chief.
Walpole followed in the footsteps of his father, Steve Walpole Sr., from 1986 to 2001. He joined the Scotts Valley Police Department in 2014 as a lieutenant after 18 years serving in Los Gatos. He was the director of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, a former director of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, and was the treasurer of the Santa Cruz Law Enforcement Chiefs Association.
Walpole has led a team of 28 employees and 14 volunteers since he assumed the role of police chief in January 2017, according to the news release.
Walpole oversaw the rollout of body-worn and in-car cameras at the department. He restarted the department’s K9 program, which has brought in four different police dogs since 2014. He also helped begin the Police Explorer program, which allows high school-aged teens interested in a law enforcement career to volunteer at the department.
“Leading this department and working alongside such a dedicated team of professionals has been the most meaningful chapter of my career,” he said in the release.
Scotts Valley Mayor Derek Timm thanked Walpole for his contributions and wished him well in his retirement: “On behalf of the City of Scotts Valley, I extend our sincere appreciation for Chief Walpole’s service to the community. He has provided steady leadership during his time as police chief and shown a strong commitment to public safety and the Scotts Valley community.
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