Matt Jenkins has been appointed by City Manager Jeff Kay to serve as the next Police Chief of Healdsburg. This appointment follows an intensive recruitment process that included statewide marketing, a community survey to determine the characteristics that residents wanted to see in their next chief, and two interview panels comprised of subject matter activists and community representatives.
Chief Jenkins is currently serving as Interim Chief and most recently held the position of Police Lieutenant.
“Chief Jenkins has demonstrated over almost two decades that he is a skilled law enforcement professional and a proven leader,” said City Manager Jeff Kay. “Although we received numerous qualified applications, it became clear after the recruitment process that the best candidate was right here in Healdsburg. Chief Jenkins is a dedicated member of the community and can be counted on to serve the best interests of all of our residents.”
In response to his appointment, Chief Jenkins stated, “I am honored and humbled to be selected as the Healdsburg Police Department’s next Chief of Police. I look forward to continuing to serve this great department and providing exceptional service to the community that I call home.”
Matt Jenkins has been a member of the Healdsburg Police Department since 2002, when he started as a college intern. He began his career as a sworn police officer working patrol in 2003 and was promoted police sergeant in 2006. While working patrol, he held the collateral assignments of School Resource Officer and field training program supervisor, among others. For the past eight years, he served as second-in-command in the position of Police Lieutenant where he oversaw the Patrol and Support Services Divisions. Chief Jenkins holds master’s degrees is Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University and in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego. He lives in Healdsburg with his wife and two daughters and is active in the community as both a girls softball coach and member of the Healdsburg Little League Board of Directors.
The recruitment was managed by Peckham & McKenney with Diana Bishop serving as the primary recruiter.