Lafayette Bids Farewell to Police Chief Ben Alldritt

Lafayette Police Chief Ben Alldritt is leaving his position after almost seven years in Lafayette. The City will host a reception to thank Chief Alldritt for his service to the Lafayette community on Monday, December 9, 2024 from 5 to 6pm at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, in the Don Tatzin Community Hall. The community is invited to attend.

Later that evening during the Lafayette City Council meeting, City Manager Niroop K. Srivatsa will introduce the incoming chief, Lt. James “Jamie” Williams. Williams will overlap with Chief Alldritt for a week before officially taking the helm on December 16.

Chief Ben Alldritt, a Lieutenant with the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, has served as Lafayette’s Police Chief since 2018. (Lafayette, Danville, and Orinda contract with Office of the Sheriff for policing and public safety services). As Chief of Police, Alldritt was focused on improving the City’s emergency preparedness, decreasing crime, and improving community engagement. “I am honored to have served the community of Lafayette and worked with the dedicated staff at the Lafayette Police Department and sincerely want to thank the community for all of their partnership and support,” Alldritt said. Alldritt has accepted a new position with the City of Martinez Police Department as Police Captain.

“Chief Alldritt has been a great partner and I have enjoyed working with him on a number of initiatives including emergency preparedness - including PSPS and fire prevention - and safety like the Slow Down Lafayette anti-speeding campaign. He was always ready to roll up his sleeves and work round the clock to make Lafayette a better place. He will be missed,” said City Manager Srivatsa.

Lieutenant James Williams was selected as Lafayette’s Police Chief from a pool of four candidates put forth by Sheriff David Livingston. City Manager Srivatsa conducted two rounds of interviews and invited panelists representing public safety professionals, community members, and City Department Heads to select the next Chief.

Lt. Williams joined the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff in 2001 as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher and graduated from the police academy in 2008. Most recently, he was assigned as the Facility Commander at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond where he is responsible for directing daily operations and strategic planning for the facility, including managing sworn personnel and professional staff and maintaining the safety and security of the facility. During his career, he has been a detective and field training officer for the Town of Danville (which also contracts with the Sheriff’s Office), and orchestrated multi-agency collaboration for emergency responses, improving coordination in crises including wildfires and large-scale events while assigned to the Sheriff’s Emergency Services Division. Williams has also served as a SWAT Hostage Negotiations Team member, among other assignments.

Lt. Williams is a U.S. Navy veteran and has a degree in Criminal Justice Management. Prior to joining the Sheriff's office, Williams worked for the Piedmont Police Department as a 9-1-1 dispatcher.