By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — Mayor-elect Kevin Faulconer on Wednesday, Feb. 26, named Assistant Chief Shelley Zimmerman to succeed retiring William Lansdowne as San Diego’s Police Chief. The appointment becomes effective on Monday, March 3, the same day Faulconer will be sworn in as mayor.
Zimmerman, who is Jewish, will be the first woman to lead the San Diego Police Department. Bill Kolender, who later became San Diego County Sheriff, had been the first Jewish police chief of the city.
Saying that Zimmerman in her 31-year career with the police department has “done it all,” and was ready to lead, Faulconer’s announcement came with Lansdowne at his side along with City Councilmember Marti Emerald, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. Amid complaints about police officers engaged in sexual misconduct, Lansdowne had announced his retirement after a 10-year tenure as head of the department.
“As your mayor, my top priority is ensuring a health San Diego Police Department that services all of our neighborhoods every single day of the week. I believe there is no better choice to lead this department and to accomplish this goal than Assistant Chief Shelley Zimmerman. She understands clearly what will be acceptable in this department and what will not be,” Faulconer said.
“She knows how critically important it is that we recruit and retain the best and brightest officers to serve this great city of ours. Working together, all of us, we will support this department from the ground up,” said Faulconer.
Emerald, who also is Jewish, said: “As a woman, it’s great to see another woman in a position of leadership. And I think that you come to this opportunity with some sets of skills and sensitivities that will make an enormous difference on the streets of San Diego.”
Responding, Zimmerman said: ““I am absolutely, extremely grateful, extremely honored, extremely humbled and consider it an absolute privilege to wear this uniform and this badge for the San Diego Police Department and I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity.”
Faulconer and Zimmerman, 54, friends of long standing, are bike-riding enthusiasts who trained together last year for a 7-day, 620-mile bicycle ride from San Francisco to San Diego in support of challenged athletes. At the time they announced their participation in the bike ride, Faulconer and Zimmerman committed themselves to raising $12,500 each toward the Challenge Athletes Foundation’s goal of raising $1 million.
The appointment of Zimmerman was greeted enthusiastically by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who also is a member of the Jewish community, but with reserve by Interim Mayor Todd Gloria, who had called for a nationwide search to be conducted before the position was filled.
Said Gloria: “Shelley Zimmerman is a well-respected leader with 31 years of service at the San Diego Police Department, and I know she will do a fine job as San Diego’s police chief. The selection of a police chief is one of the most important decisions a mayor can make. It was my hope that a national search would be performed that included significant community input in advance of this decision.”
About to return to his position as a San Diego City Councilman after Faulconer’s installation as mayor on Monday, March 3rd, Gloria added in a statement:
“San Diego is a diverse City with people of different ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, and economic backgrounds who have unique perspectives on law enforcement and crime prevention. I wanted them to have a say in making sure that our Police Department appropriately reflected the communities it serves. As we look to fill vacancies throughout the ranks, I am committed to ensuring the Mayor-Elect and our new police chief fill our Police Department with diverse professionals to serve our citizens.”
Dumanis was more effusive in her statement, saying: “I’ve worked with Assistant Chief Zimmerman for many years and she’s an excellent choice to lead the San Diego Police Department at this critical time when public trust must be restored. She’s well-known in the community, well-qualified to lead the department and has been a trusted partner with the District Attorney’s Office in the pursuit of justice.
“Choosing Shelley Zimmerman ensures that a serious review and resolution of any problems at SDPD will occur quickly. I applaud Mayor-elect Faulconer for moving quickly and for choosing the first woman Chief of Police in San Diego history. I know Chief Zimmerman will bring a unique perspective to the job which will serve her, and the citizens of San Diego well.”
Michael Sonduck, president and Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, expressed pleasure when informed of Faulconer’s choice: “We’ve worked with Chief Zimmerman for many years,” he said. “She is an exemplary professional and we look forward to her leadership of our community.”
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
Michael Mantell wrote: Mazal Tov! I remember her well when I was Chief Psychologist of the SDPD way back. Solid, lovely and no doubt will do a fine job.”
Doris Jaffe wrote: “We have a Jewish female District Attorney and now a Jewish female Police Chief. May they both serve San Diego with honesty and integrity in their noble professions.”
Stan Schwartz inquires: “I wonder if she is the first Jewish female police chief?”
I think the fact that Shelly Zimmerman is highly qualified, has thirty-one years in in the SDPD, is intelligent, listens and is personable– IS why she is an excellent choice to lead the SDPD. Chief Landsdowne is remarkable and his departure is a loss to San Diego.
Lets support OUR SDPD and demand funding to help the department, continue to protect our city!