Riverside Police Department Press Release

Police Chief Russ Leach Announces Promotions for
Deputy Chief, Police Captain and Police Lieutenant

 

Riverside, Ca-  Chief Russ Leach is pleased to announce the promotions of Captain Dave Dominguez to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police, Lieutenant Jim Cannon to the rank of Captain and Sergeant Chuck Griffitts to the rank of Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Chuck Griffitts started his law enforcement career with the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority as a Police Dispatcher in 1977. He became a sworn Police Officer with the Hermosa Beach Police Department in 1980. While at Hermosa Beach, he worked as a Patrol Officer and as a Detective. In January of 1987, he made a lateral transfer to the Riverside Police Department as a Patrol Officer. He transferred to the Police Aviation Unit in 1989 as a Police Observer and was soon promoted to Police Pilot. After five years with the Aviation Unit, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in July of 1994. As a Sergeant he worked as a supervisor for Field Operations, Aviation and Internal Affairs. Lieutenant Griffitts is an active member of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and the Airborne Law Enforcement Association. He and his wife Michelle have six children.

Captain Jim Cannon started his law enforcement career with the Riverside Sheriff’s Department in 1975. In 1976, he made a lateral transfer to the Riverside Police Department as a Patrol Officer. He was also assigned as a School Resource Officer. In 1989, he was promoted to the rank of Detective where he worked in Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Children and Narcotics. In 1992, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, he worked as a supervisor in Field Operations and General Investigations. He also served as the department’s Public Information Officer and supervised the K-9 unit. In January of 1997, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, he worked as an Area Commander and managed the Field Training Officer Program, Traffic Bureau and Personnel and Training Division. He has attended college at San Bernardino Valley College and Cal State San Bernardino, he has an Associates of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Captain Cannon is an active member with the Riverside Kiwanis and the Inland Empire Chapter of National Organization of Black Law Enforcement executives (NOBLE). He has participated in the Urban League, American Heart Association and served on the Youth Service Center Board. He and his wife Jacqueline have four children.
Deputy Chief Dave Dominguez started his law enforcement career with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office in 1979. During his time with S.B.S.O., he worked as a Patrol Deputy, Training Academy Officer and in the Corrections Unit. In 1986, he was promoted to the rank of Detective and was assigned to General Investigations. In 1987, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, he worked as a supervisor in the Corrections Unit, the Detective Bureau and Patrol Divisions in Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga. In 1994, he made a lateral promotion to the Riverside Police Department as a Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, he worked as an Area Commander and managed the Personnel and Training Division and General Investigations Bureau. In March of 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. As a Captain, he worked as the Field Operations Commander and Investigations Commander.

Deputy Chief Dominguez has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University at Fullerton. He is a past graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police from the John F. Kennedy Government Center located at Harvard University. He is a past president for the California Peace Officer’s Association for the statewide management group for police executives. He has been involved with his local church and youth recreational leagues for the past ten years, serving as a soccer and baseball coach for all ages.

Deputy Chief Dominguez comes from a family with an impressive background in law enforcement and public safety. His father is a retired 25-year veteran with the Los Angeles Police Department. He has two uncles who are retired from the Los Angeles Police Department, both with over 20 years experience. He has two cousins that are currently employed with the Los Angeles Police Department and two brothers that are employed with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

He and his wife Rosella have three children.

Chief Leach will be hosting a promotional ceremony on Thursday, July 3, 2003 at 8:00 am in the Art Pick Council Chambers located at City Hall, 3900 Main Street in Riverside.