The City of San Luis Obispo has selected a new police chief to replace retiring chief Deborah Linden.
Stephen Gesell, a 22-year law enforcement veteran, served the community of Atascadero as interim police chief in 2011, and will take office as San Luis Obispo’s new police chief on Jan. 17.
San Luis Obispo had more than 60 applicants for the position, but eventually decided to choose a local candidate. Gesell’s experience as interim chief in Atascadero helped him stand out from the other candidates, San Luis Obispo assistant city manager Michael Codron said.
“He had the opportunity to be a chief of police essentially for the last year in Atascadero, so (Gesell) is already colleagues with the other chiefs in the county,” Codron said.
Before working in Atascadero, Gesell spent 20 years on the police force in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Gesell’s time in Atascadero, combined with his 20 years of prior experience as a police officer in Arizona made him an ideal choice, Codron said. He said Gesell demonstrated that he can manage a department, and understands law enforcement in a larger community like San Luis Obispo.
“It’s a combination of his experience and skills, and then just how his leadership style and personality fit with our community,” Codron said. “In the city manager’s estimation that makes (Gesell) the right fit.”
Gesell is also a native of San Luis Obispo, and he wants to return, Codron said. He said Gesell’s understanding of the culture and area was obvious.
“(Gesell) loves San Luis Obispo and had a real strong desire to return to the place where he grew up,” Codron said.
But in order to return to the place where he grew up, Gesell underwent a lengthy selection process.
Gesell had to first submit a résumé, and then undergo a phone interview before he was invited to San Luis Obispo with six other top candidates. The city manager and other officials worked with an outside consultant to narrow down the field to only the most qualified individuals.
“The applicant pool is reviewed in careful detail and then a select group of the candidates are invited in after phone screening,” Codron said.
This process led to city manager Katie Lichtig, other San Luis Obispo officials and citizens narrowing down the candidate pool to the most qualified individual.
“The city of San Luis Obispo has a very robust process to assess candidates for the executive team or department head level,” Codron said.
Gesell was finally chosen out of the seven candidates after a tour of the city and several interviews with city council members, University Police Department’s chief Bill Watton and several city council members.
As police chief, Gesell will be expected to direct the department, manage the department’s budget and work with local groups, San Luis Obispo Police Department captain Chris Staley said.
“They really have to be in touch with what’s going on with the citizens,” Staley said.
Staley, who met Gesell before his selection, said he was pleased with the appointment because Gesell was one of the “best fits for the job.”
“I think he’s going to be a great leader for the department,” Staley said. “He’s got the right fit for the department and the city, and the right skill set to keep us moving in the right direction.”
Gesell already showed a strength for directing departments as interim police chief in Atascadero, said Atascadero police chief Jerel Haley, who took over after Gesell.
As interim police chief, Gesell made a point of thinking of the department’s future five, 10 and even 20 years in the future, Haley said. Two of Gesell’s biggest strengths are his “forward thinking” and “clarity of vision,” he said.
“He has a tremendous amount of vision and really worked with the Atascadero Police Department at developing a strategic plan for the future,” Haley said.