Pleasanton Names New Police Chief

PLEASANTON, CA — Tracy Avelar, the current chief of the Foster City Police Department, will serve as Pleasanton's new police chief, the city announced Monday. Avelar begins Dec. 9, and will replace Interim Police Chief Gina Anderson, the former head of the Newark Police Department who replaced David Swing in May after he retired.

Avelar has served with the Foster City Police Department since 2002, according to a news release from the city of Pleasanton. She began as a patrol officer, then worked her way up to become Foster City's first female lieutenant, captain, and chief.

Avelar served a number of positions in Foster City, including the daily operations of the Patrol Division, crime prevention, hiring, and overseeing youth services. She also managed departments like field training, SWAT, and traffic enforcement, and oversaw dispatch, records, investigations, and budget preparation.

Avelar is the current president of the California Police Chiefs Association, and has served on the San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Executive Board. She holds a bachelors in criminal justice and a masters in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security. She is also a graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership Institute and the LAPD Leadership Academy.

“Chief Avelar has a proven track record of leadership and innovation in law enforcement, and we are excited to welcome her to Pleasanton,” PleasantonCity Manager Gerry Beaudin said in a statement. “Her dedication to community engagement, public safety, and operational excellence will be a great asset to our city.”

“Pleasanton holds a special place in my heart, and I am truly honored to step into the role of Police Chief for the City,” Avelar said in a statement. “I have so much respect for the men and women of this department and look forward to working alongside them to continue building strong community partnerships, ensuring public safety, and fostering trust and transparency.”