City of Tracy Looks to Hire Resigning Turlock Police Chief

Turlock Police Chief Gary Hampton announced his resignation and that his last day will be July 31, 2011. According to an anonymous elected official quoted in the Tracy Press, Hampton has been offered the job of Tracy Police Chief and that he’s accepted but has not finalized the contract.

Hampton did not respond to a request for confirmation by late Tuesday.

Hampton had worked for the Tracy Police Department for 10 years until 2003, when he left as their senior Police Captain and to take the position of the Oakdale Police Chief. Hampton was the Oakdale Police Chief for 2 ½ years before serving as the Turlock Police Chief for 5 years.

Retired Modesto Assistant Police Chief Dave Young will serve as Turlock’s Interim Police Chief.

How long Young will serve in the interim position depends on the hiring process chosen to find the next Turlock Police Chief.

In 2006, when Gary Hampton was hired to be the Turlock Police Chief, the City conducted an exhaustive search that took about six months and included 49 applicants. Some leaders from the community helped interview candidates.

The City of Tracy lost their Police Chief as Janet Thiessen announced her resignation effective July 8, 2011, and looks to have already secured her replacement with Gary Hampton. Thiessen had been the Tracy Police Chief since February 2009.

The City of Turlock may decide to hire a recruiting firm or promote from within the organization, but no news regarding how the search for the next Turlock Police Chief has been released.