City of Pinole Welcomes New Police Chief

The City of Pinole is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Klawuhn as its new Police Chief. Chief Klawuhn is an innovative and seasoned public safety professional with more than 23 years of experience and brings extensive leadership, operational expertise, financial acumen, and a commitment to community engagement to her new role.

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Chief Klawuhn was born and raised in the South Bay and has devoted her entire professional career to serving the residents of Contra Costa County. She began her public safety career in 2001 with the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, where she has served in various capacities, advancing through the ranks of Criminalist, Deputy Sheriff, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Assistant Sheriff. Most recently, she oversaw the Field Operations Bureau, managing over 375 personnel across Patrol, Investigations, and Special Operations, including services for the contract cities of Danville, Lafayette, and Orinda.

The selection of Chief Klawuhn followed a robust recruitment process which involved extensive community engagement. The City Manager and recruitment team actively sought input from residents and community stakeholders through outreach efforts, including public forums, surveys, and a community interview panel. The feedback collected helped shape the recruitment process to ensure that the qualities and priorities identified by the community were reflected in the search for the city’s new Police Chief. Chief Klawuhn’s strong alignment with these priorities, particularly her commitment to transparency, community-focused policing, creating programs for mental health outreach and support, creating programs to mentor women in law enforcement, and fostering positive relationships, made her the ideal choice.

Throughout her career, Chief Klawuhn has developed a holistic approach to policing, with expertise in strategic planning, resource management, grant funding, and community-focused initiatives. She is deeply committed to fostering a healthy organizational culture, mentoring future leaders in law enforcement, and integrating technology to enhance transparency and service efficiency.

Chief Klawuhn’s educational achievements include a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Science Degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego. She is also a graduate of the California POST Command College, a program designed for top-tier law enforcement executives.

“Chief Klawuhn’s exceptional leadership skills, experience, and dedication to building strong community partnerships make her an outstanding choice for Pinole’s next Police Chief,” said City Manager Kelcey Young. “We deeply value the input we received from our community throughout this process, and we are confident that Chief Klawuhn will deliver the leadership and vision needed to meet the community’s priorities and enhance public safety.”

Pinole Police Department is currently being led by Acting Chief Matt Avery who will be retiring at the end of December. Commander Jeremy Crone will serve as interim Police Chief until Klawuhn officially begins her duties in mid-January. The City of Pinole is extremely grateful for Acting Chief Avery and Commander Crone’s exceptional leadership during this transition period.