SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The city of Sacramento is getting its first female police chief, according to an announcement from the city Friday.
Officials said Kathy Lester will become Sacramento’s 46th Chief of Police. She is currently the department's Deputy Chief of Operations.
“I am humbled by this appointment and by the opportunity to serve our residents in this role,” Lester said. “I joined the Sacramento Police Department because of its reputation for community-based policing, and that spirit of community and collaboration has long been instilled in me. I look forward to continuing the ongoing work by the Sacramento Police Department to make our city a place where everyone feels safe, secure and protected.”
Lester said it's not a secret that a career in law enforcement is challenging.
"We've had two years of very much a public outcry about the relationship between communities and law enforcement," Lester said. "I think it's an opportunity for all law enforcement agencies, not just the Sacramento Police Department, to do better."
Lester is a 27-year veteran of the Sacramento Police Department. She joined SPD in 1994 as a dispatcher, before becoming an officer in 1996. As member of the force, she's worked in patrol, traffic, recruiting, internal affairs, criminal intelligence, and served as an executive lieutenant in the North Patrol Command. This is just to name a few of her former positions and assignments.
“I am thrilled that Kathy has accepted this opportunity to continue to serve her community in this new capacity,” said City Manager Howard Chan, who made the appointment. “During her time with the Sacramento Police Department, she has proven herself to be a dynamic leader with an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, accountability and innovation. There is no one better to serve in this role and to continue the ongoing efforts of the department and its outstanding employees.”
Tanya Faison, the founder of Black Lives Matter Sacramento, told ABC10 that she is not optimistic in the new Sacramento Police Chief.
"I think that a lot of the community is tired of symbolic gestures of progress," Faison said. "We want real change to happen and we want change to happen now."
Faison said she is hopeful that Lester is transparent and holds officers accountable.
Following the announcement, the Sacramento Homeless Union released the following statement:
"Law enforcement has a huge presence in the unhoused community. The Sacramento homeless Union will be requesting a meeting with the new police chief to discuss the involvement in our unhoused community. It is important for us to have conversation about accountability, oversight and transparency. The current administration has shown inequality in the treatment of crime against the unhoused including by law enforcement."
Current Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn is set to retire from his role at the end of 2021.
