Honoring Retiring Police Chief Ferguson and Welcoming Our Next Chief Chris Parker
As we near the end of 2023, the City of Cloverdale would like to inform the community of some significant changes that are set to take place at the Cloverdale Police Department. These changes represent both a transition in leadership and an opportunity for growth within our police department.
Honoring Retiring Police Chief Ferguson
First and foremost, it is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of our dedicated Police Chief, Jason Ferguson. After four years of service and commitment to our community, Chief Ferguson will be retiring on December 14th. Chief Ferguson, a beacon of dedication and service, will be leaving behind a legacy marked by outstanding achievements and unwavering commitment to our community’s safety and emergency preparedness. His emphasis on proactive engagement and collaboration with Resilient Cloverdale and the CloveReady Initiative has strengthened the bond between the police force and our community. As Chief Ferguson prepares to embark on this new chapter in his life, the City of Cloverdale expresses profound gratitude for his dedicated service and wishes him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement. The impact of his leadership will resonate within our community for years to come.
Introduction of New Police Chief Chris Parker
It is my privilege to introduce the new leader who will be taking the helm of our Police Department. Lieutenant Chris
Parker, who has served with distinction in various roles within our department, will assume the position of Police Chief effective December 15th. Chris is a highly experienced law enforcement professional with a career
spanning over two decades. His journey in the field began in 1998 when he started as a police reserve officer for the city of Mountain View. In 2001, Chris was hired as a police officer for the city of Cotati, where he quickly made his mark and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2005.
Throughout his career, Chris has taken on diverse assignments that have showcased his versatility and
dedication to community safety. He has worked on and supervised numerous undercover operations and
probation enforcement operations, demonstrating a keen understanding of addressing quality-of-life issues. In 2015, Chris joined the Cloverdale Police Department, where he was promoted to patrol sergeant. Demonstrating exemplary leadership skills, he was once again promoted in 2019 to the rank of Patrol Lieutenant.
During his tenure in Cloverdale, Chris’s leadership was tested as he served as the acting police chief for nine months during challenging times, including the Tubbs fire, an officer-involved shooting, and various community issues that arose. Chris successfully navigated these situations, addressing them with efficiency and professionalism. Additionally, he took proactive steps to foster community engagement by initiating programs such as National Night Out and Coffee with a Cop, to name a few, further strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the community they serve. Chris’s dedication, experience, and ability to handle complex situations make him a respected and trusted leader in law enforcement and throughout Sonoma County.
Introduction of 10th Officer Marlen Gonzales
In addition to the new dispatcher, we are also welcoming
Marlen Gonzalez to our team as a new police officer. Marlen is currently attending the Santa Rosa Police Academy and is expected to graduate on December 8th. Marlen’s dedication, commitment, and eagerness to serve our community make her an outstanding addition to our force. Marlen was born on October 7th, 1999, in Santa Rosa, California, and moved to Cloverdale when she was in the third grade. She has lived in Cloverdale most of her life and attended elementary, middle, and high school in Cloverdale. Marlen played on the high school soccer team and ran track and field. Since she was a child, her dream was to become a police officer because she looked up to them as heroes for being selfless and working in the field to protect the community.
Marlen is very excited about what the future holds for her on this journey as a public safety officer. She looks forward to building relationships within the community to make it a safer place. The addition of Marlen as our 10th Police Officer, will enable the Cloverdale Police Department to dedicate an officer to serve as a School Resource Officer for the Cloverdale Unified School District.
Introduction of New Police Dispatcher Tanya Galloway
Introducing Furthermore, We are thrilled to introduce a new member of the Cloverdale Police Department family,
Tanya Galloway, who officially took her Oath of Office on November 8th. Tanya, a long-time resident of Cloverdale, has a heart full of dedication and a passion for serving her community. Let’s get to know the woman behind the badge a little better.
Born and raised in Healdsburg, Tanya moved to Cloverdale in 2010 with her husband, Justin, and their two sons, Tatum (12) and Jayden (10). For the past 12 years, she had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom, an experience she cherishes deeply. Tanya immersed herself in all aspects of raising her children, making a conscious effort to be active and present in their lives.
Tanya’s commitment to her community didn’t stop at home. She dedicated her time to various activities within
Cloverdale. Tanya volunteered at local schools, coached youth soccer, and served on the board of the Jefferson Parent-Teacher Association for the past 6 years. In fact, she served as the President of the Jefferson PTA for the last 2 years and currently holds positions on the Cloverdale Little League and Cloverdale Chargers Boards. Furthermore,
she proudly serves as the President of the Washington Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA). Tanya’s
dedication and hard work have significantly contributed to the success of these organizations, and she takes immense pride in her contributions.
These changes mark an important chapter in the history of our police department, and we are confident that Chief Parker, Tanya Galloway, and Marlen Gonzalez will continue the tradition of excellence, integrity, and community
engagement that our Police Department is known for.
Thank you for your continued support of the Cloverdale Police Department. We look forward to working together to ensure the safety and security of our community under the leadership of Chief Parker and the dedication of our new team members.
