Walnut Creek has hired San Leandro Police Capt. Jamie Knox to be its new police chief, the city announced Wednesday.
Knox will begin his duties July 26. He takes over for interim chief Dan Pratt, who’s been on the job since April. Walnut Creek’s last permanent chief, Tom Chaplin, retired in late 2020.
Knox grew up in Roseville, where he started his law enforcement career as a police explorer, then as a dispatcher. Rocklin hired him to be an officer in 1996, where he moved up the ranks before moving on in 2015 to serve as a captain in Novato. He joined the San Leandro department in 2017, overseeing its service bureau and, most recently, its operations bureau.
“I want to thank our City Manager, Dan Buckshi, for giving me this amazing opportunity,” Knox said, in a statement. “Walnut Creek has been on my radar for years as a great place to visit, and now I get to build partnerships with our community and enable our police team to provide the best possible public safety service. I’m excited to meet the women and men of Walnut Creek PD, and to get to know our residents.”
Knox has a bachelor’s degree in emergency management and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
He graduated from the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston.
The city said it will announce a formal swearing-in ceremony soon.
22 comments
I had thought WCPD captain Jay Hill was the interim chief. It turns out I missed that the city hired the former San Ramon police chief Dan Pratt in April 2021 to replace Hill as the interim chief. The defund-the-police people will be interested in knowing that Pratt was paid $116.40 per hour or a monthly base salary of $20,175.
I wish him good luck. He will do a great job if the city officials allow him and the judicial system backs him instead of the criminals. Time for the people to stand behind their police officers and let them do their jobs. Crime is exploding all around us as the police are demonized and criminals made out to be heroes or people who are no longer accountable for their actions. Mr Knox looks like a great pick, allow him to take over and do what is needed for public safety.
100% correct, Lilo!
+1
100% agreed. If you are anti cop you are our F-ing ENEMY!
+1
will he protect citizens and businesses rather than give into BLM and antifa getting their “reparations”?
Don’t worry about it.
No one cares about degrees and FBI Academies, and the other Admin crap. What WC wants is a Chief who will tell his troops: go out, and kick criminal butt; show no quarter. Historically, in police circles in the Bay Area, WCPD has had a poor reputation. Hopefully he can turn that around.
Not true…at all. I served 30 years in the Bay Area…none of it in WC but know/knew many of their officers. WCPD never had a bad or poor reputation for all that time. I haven’t been retired long enough for that to change.
Jefferson,
WCPD was just fine when it was a sleepy little town, but times have changed. Now they are too soft for the current world and I have doubts about the new chief, he was hired by the soft city council.
LASD Firestone……………..108RS
That is correct what you say! The biggest problem are our dumb laws that protect the criminals! The victims are punished. Sick of this.
From what I’ve heard I think he will make an excellent chief! Walnut Creek is lucky, and needs someone like him!
The only weak part of the link now is the Walnut Creek City Council, and if they’re going to hinder his efforts!
He looks well equipped to handle the incoming urban population
Wow. They actually hired a white guy? Watch them eventually throw him under the bus…
Not much on his action background. I guess we will find out soon enough if he has what it takes..
I know wrong section.
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I wish him a great deal of luck. Support him as we need someone who will enfore the law and not be intimidated by all the leftists and their entitlement crap.
We need law and order to be brought back and hopefully it will pour over to the other cities in the area.
I almost fell over when I saw he was light skinned. What a refreshing change and please give him a chance and not be critical of what he is trying to do.
Welcome Chief Knox.
But, he is a member of the LGBTQ community, while he may be well qualified, he is also a politically correct selection.
How will he do with crime, homeless, rioting and looting? I have doubts, hope he proves me wrong.
108RS
Exactly what do you mean a member of the LGBTQ community? Is he one of those letters or he just supports them? A PC pick is never a good thing.
Admin type, no mil experience. Likes paper decorations on his wall.
Hopefully, he won’t order all his men to protect the police dept. while BLM loots Broadway Plaza like the last loser chief did.
The best C.O.P that I ‘ve seen are usually the quiet and unassuming guys with prior military service. They never talk about themselves or their degrees. They fight with their wit and intellect. They look after their troops and are not afraid to voice their opinions about any event to either the media and the B.O.S.
Lastly, they take care of business and let the chips fall where they may.
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