Riverside Police Department

History and Chiefs

The Riverside Police Department was founded in 1896 and has grown from a small frontier town police force to a large metropolitan police department with 373 sworn police employees and 147 non-sworn employees. Our agency is renowned nationally for its leadership in creating innovative approaches to critical law enforcement situations. Several tactics developed by the Riverside Police Department, such as the High-Risk or Felony Traffic Stop, have been adopted as the standard throughout the country.

The department is a team-oriented agency that combines a close partnership with the community and a policy of enforcement oriented police work to build a stronger, safer city. The Riverside Police Department strives to continue this tradition by looking for dedicated men and women to provide fresh ideas for the future.

Police Headquarters is located at 4102 Orange Street in downtown Riverside.

The headquarters building houses the Office of the Chief of Police, Administrative Division (Personnel and Training), Records Bureau, Finance and Community Services Bureau.

The Field Operations Division, General and Special Investigations, and Traffic Services are divided between our facilities at 8181 Lincoln Ave and 10540 Magnolia Avenue.

 

Riverside Police Department

Chief's Of Police 1895 - Present

Chief Frank P. Wilson
1895 - 1907

Chief William B. Johnson
1907 - 1908

Chief Dale G. Clayton
1908 - 1910

Chief Samuel G. Harbison
1910 - 1912

 

Chief Phillip M. Coburn
1912 - 1913

Chief Frank F. Corrington
1913 - 1915

Chief John A. Vankirk
1915 - 1918

Chief Carl J. Carlson
1918 - 1920

 

Chief Elmer S. Diess
1920 - 1926

Chief Benjamin F. Shirley
1926 - 1928

Chief Nestor Brule
1928 - 1934 & 1938 - 1944

Chief Hal Heaston
1934 - 1938

 

Chief Jack Bennett
1944 - 1965

Chief Lambert “Curly” Kinkead
1965 - 1972

Chief Fred Ferguson
1972 - 1977

Chief Victor Jones
1977 - 1983

 

Chief Linford Richardson
1983 - 1992

Chief Ken Fortier
1993 - 1997

Chief Jerry Carroll
1998 - 2001

Chief Russ Leach
2001 - 2010

 

Chief Sergio G. Diaz
2010 - 2019

Chief Larry V. Gonzalez
2019 - Present