Jayson Rutherford will be the next chief of the Scotts Valley Police Department (SVPD), the city announced on Wednesday morning. He has served as interim chief since Steve Walpole retired in October.
Rutherford is a Stockton native and joined the SVPD in 1998. He has spent his whole career with the department, assuming the roles of police officer, sergeant, captain and administrative captain over the years.
“I have dedicated my entire 28-year law enforcement career to the City of Scotts Valley. I am fully invested in the community, both personally and professionally. I live here, I’ve raised my family here, and the continued safety and quality of life for our community means everything to me,” Rutherford said in a media release. “It is my honor and privilege to serve my community as chief. I understand the unique needs and desires of our community and so do my staff. My vision is to enhance our community relationships through accountability and collaboration, which are reasons why our department has enjoyed such strong community support for the last 60 years.”
Rutherford holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California State University Stanislaus and a master’s degree in public safety from the University of Virginia. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) executive leadership certification program, and the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training executive development course. He is also on the CPCA state legislative committee and is a member of the Scotts Valley Kiwanis service club.
Rutherford will be sworn in on March 2.
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