New Chief Sonoma DA's Investigator named

 Senior Sonoma County District Attorney's Investigator Brian Davis has been named Chief District Attorney Investigator when the current Chief, Tony Gillotte, retires later this summer, District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced Wednesday.

"Brian Davis has been a member of the Sonoma County law enforcement community for over 30 years, having worked at the Santa Rosa Police Department for 27 years, where he rose through the ranks to Lieutenant," Ravitch said in a news release. "He joined the District Attorney’s office five years ago and was promoted to Senior Investigator in 2008."

Ravitch added she was "pleased to have someone of Brian Davis’ caliber to serve as the District Attorney’s Chief Investigator during my administration," she said. 

"Incoming Chief Davis competed in a selection process with several other outstanding internal candidates," Ravitch said. "We are fortunate to have an impressive field of qualified and experienced investigators within our department --Brian will do a fabulous job leading them and working cooperatively with Sonoma County law enforcement agencies on public safety issues.”

Davis said he was pleased to be named incoming Chief Investigator.

“I look forward to working with the District Attorney and the entire office in continuing to work hard to make Sonoma County a safe place to live,” Davis said.

According to Ravitch, Davis has extensive experience as a violent crimes detective and has supervised many investigations at the sergeant level -- including the death penalty case involving the murder of Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Frank Trejo. 

Davis has administrative experience at the rank of lieutenant and was the manager of the field technician and canine programs at Santa Rosa Police Department. 

He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California State University, Sacramento, and a master’s degree in public administration from Sonoma State University. 

Davis will continue as Senior investigator until later in July when he will be promoted. 

There are currently 17 peace officers and four support staff in the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations.   In addition to assisting prosecutors in preparing cases for court -- including locating critical witnesses and conducting pretrial investigations -- investigators often assist other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in a variety of investigations.