Politics & Government
New Chief Conducts First Healdsburg Police Department Inspection
Chief Kevin Burke, who took office in November, reviews staff, poses for photos, supervises training during four-hour event Thursday.
For the first time in four years, Healdsburg's entire police force and support staff assembled Thursday for a formal inspection by
For about four hours Thursday afternoon, Burke gave attention to each staff member -- including Healdsburg police's resident K-9 dog Dasha. After a review session in the parking lot behind the the group walked over to Healdsburg Plaza for a photo shoot.
"They looked very sharp," said Police Lt. Kevin Young of the 16 officers in full uniform from all the different shifts, the six dispatchers, two civic volunteers, a volunteer reserve officer and two support staff members. "It was kind of exciting to have everyone there at the same time."
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Young said it was the first formal inspection since 2007, when former -- now a Healdsburg City Councilwoman -- was in charge.
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Jones, who retired from the chief's job last summer, was one of three Healdsburg City Councilmembers -- along with Mayor Tom Chambers Vice Mayor Gary Plass -- to attend the event as invited guests of the police department.
"It's very rare that we actually get to see the whole staff together at one time," Young said.
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