Meet Your New Police Chief—And Help Guide Walnut Creek’s Public Safety Priorities

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Walnut Creek is opening the door to conversation and civic engagement, inviting residents to meet new police chief and apply for seats on his Community Advisory Board.

The meet-and-greet will give residents a chance to connect with incoming Police Chief Ryan Hibbs as the city simultaneously seeks applicants for openings on the advisory board. The board advises the chief on policies, community policing strategies, transparency efforts, and public safety priorities, providing a direct channel for resident input into police decision-making.

The Feb. 4 meet-and-greet will be held in the Rotunda at the Lesher Center for the Arts, with residents invited to drop by between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. City officials say the event is an opportunity for community members to get to know Hibbs and learn more about the department’s priorities.

Residents can also play a more direct role in shaping local public safety policy by joining the advisory board. The board serves as a sounding board and feedback loop for the chief, offering community perspectives that help inform policies, procedures, and policing strategies. The board is intended to increase transparency, strengthen community policing, raise public awareness, and identify best practices, according to an announcement. “The Chief’s Advisory Board helps us see things from the community’s perspective and ensures we’re addressing concerns we might otherwise overlook,” Chief Hibbs said in a statement.

Board members serve rotating two-year terms and meet monthly at City Hall. Applications are open until Friday and are available to Walnut Creek residents at www.walnutcreekca.gov or directly online at https://forms.office.com/g/pAaSPdy5ZQt.