Fremont Appoints First Female Police Chief

FREMONT, CA — Fremont City Manager Fred Diaz announced the appointment of Kimberly Petersen as the next Police Chief for the City of Fremont. Petersen will be Fremont’s seventh police chief, and first female chief. She is currently serving as a Fremont Police Captain, a position she’s held for 5.5 years. Petersen’s career with the Fremont Police Department began in 1996.

Petersen’s appointment is effective July 26, 2018. Once sworn in, she will be responsible for all aspects of the Fremont Police Department, including emergency services provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As part of overall management of the department, the Chief of Police has direct oversight of the Offices of Business Services, Professional Standards and Accountability, Special Investigations, and the Media Relations/Public Affairs function. The Fremont Police Department has 311.5 full time employees of which 197 are sworn positions. The Department is a full service law enforcement agency and also provides some services by contract to other agencies.

Petersen has 22 years of law enforcement experience with the City of Fremont serving as an Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. Her career includes experience in Patrol and Investigations, as well as oversight of the day-to-day response to calls for service by uniformed police and community service officers, the Traffic Unit, K-9 Unit, and the Communications Unit.

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For 7.5 years, Petersen was also a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team and led the Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) Team for 4 years. Most recently she implemented the Trailing Dog Program and the Mobile Evaluation Team (MET). MET is a newly created unit and partnership between the Fremont Police Department and Alameda County Behavioral Health.

Petersen earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from Stanford University and a Master’s in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. She is raising three children with her partner of 16 years, and enjoys coaching in her spare time.

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“I am pleased to appoint Kimberly Petersen as Fremont’s next Police Chief,” said City Manager Fred Diaz. “Kim has worked her way up through the ranks of the Fremont Police Department and possesses the tactical and technical knowledge of police work with the breadth of experience she’s gained over her 22-year career in Fremont.” Diaz added, “Kim has a high degree of intellect that will lend itself to Fremont’s unique community attributes and complexities. She’s also bright, creative, and articulate, all of which will serve her well as she leads the Department and community in the years ahead.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this extraordinary team of people who dedicate their lives to protecting the city of Fremont,” said Captain Kimberly Petersen. “I am grateful to be part of such a distinguished agency within a supportive community.”

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The City of Fremont conducted an internal recruitment for its next police chief after Fremont Police Chief Richard Lucero announced his retirement effective July 25, 2018, after 31 years of service.

-Announcement and photo via City of Fremont