Red Bluff Chiefs of Police Present and Past
With the assistance of the Tehama County Genealogical & Historical Society (TCG&HS), the following is the known history of the Red Bluff Police Department.
The Red Bluff Police Department was organized on June 5, 1876. In the early days, the top cop was known as a “City Marshal.” This changed in 1939, when the position title changed to “Chief of Police.”
Some of the years listed below are approximate, based on election records and newspaper articles that were located. What pictures were found are also shown below.
Marshal William McCommons also spelled McCommins served as the City Marshall for approximately 12 years from 1878 – 1886. He passed away on 11/16/1895.
Marshal (Bennet) B.B. Record served as City Marshal in 1886.
Eldon Shipley (E.S.) Cushing served as City Marshal from 1887 – 1888 (he previously served as the Tehama County Sheriff from 1875-1877).
Unable to locate any records from 1888-1892.
Marshal W.F. Gibson served as City Marshal from June 8, 1892 – July 19, 1895
Marshal Orville (sometimes spelled Oroville) Pate served as City Marshal from July 20, 1895 – April 18, 1902.
Marshal T.R. Ward served as City Marshal from April 19, 1902 – April 1906. He did not seek re-election.
Marshal Samuel N. Slater served as City Marshal from April 17, 1906 – April 15, 1910. He was voted in as City Marshal on April 17, 1906, for a term of two years. He won re-election on April 14, 1908. He announced his intention to run for Sheriff on March 1, 1910. Subsequent newspaper articles show he was with the Sheriff’s Office for many years.
Marshal William Franklin “Frank” Montgomery served as the City Marshal from April 15, 1910 – April 9, 1915. He became a Red Bluff police officer by vote on April 17, 1906, and April 16, 1907. He announced his intention to run for City Marshal on March 1, 1910. He won the election on April 15, 1910. He served as both City Marshal and Tax Collector; at the time Marshals held both jobs.
Marshal Walter Gosney served as City marshal from April 9, 1915 – April 18, 1916. Marshal Gosney was voted in on April 6, 1915 and sworn in on April 9, 1915. He served as both the City Marshal and Tax Collector until voted out on April 18, 1916.
Marshal William Franklin “Frank” Montgomery again served as the City Marshal after Marshal Gosney was voted out. He resigned in 1935.
Marshal Walter Daniel Williams served as the City Marshal from 1935 – 1939. The position was renamed Chief of Police, in which he served from 1939 – 1951.
Chief Lester Arrowsmith served as Chief of Police from 1951 to February 1956.
Acting Police Chief George Pettit was appointed in February 1956 after Lester Arrowsmith was forced out of the position by the City Council.
Chief Marion Loren Clay served as Chief Police from 1956 – 1984. Chief Clay was an ex-CHP officer.
Chief John Everett Faulkner served as Chief of Police from 1985 to February 1990.
Chief Richard Bull served as Chief of Police from 1990 to 1995. He was then appointed as the City Manager and Director of Public Safety from 1995 – 1997.
Chief Emil Slionys served as the Chief of Police from 1995 – 1997. Chief Slionys worked his way through the ranks and served a total of 32 years with RBPD.
Chief Richard Bull returned to his post as Chief of Police from 1997 to 2000, before resigning to become the Chief of Police for the City of Ripon.
Interim Chief Mace McIntosh. Commander Mace McIntosh served as the interim Chief from 2000 – 2001. He worked for the department for a total of 26 years from 1978 to 2004.
Interim Chief Theodore Barnes served from 2001 – 2002.
Chief Robert Petitt served as the Chief of Police from 2002 – 2003. During his tenure Officer David F. Mobilio was killed in the line of duty on November 19, 2002.
Chief Al Shamblin served as the Chief of Police from 2003 to June 13, 2007. Chief Shamblin worked his way through the ranks and served a total of 35 years with RBPD.
Chief Scott L. Capilla served as Chief of Police from June 14, 2007, to 2009. Chief Capilla worked his way through the ranks and served a total of 26 years with RBPD.
Chief Paul Nanfito served as Chief of Police from 2009 to May 15, 2015. Chief Nanfito worked his way through the ranks and served a total of 28 years with RBPD.
Chief Kyle Sanders began serving as Chief of Police on June 3, 2015.
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Chief Kyle Sanders |
Chief Paul Nanfito |
Chief Scott L. Capilla |
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Chief Al Shamblin |
Chief Robert Petitt |
Interim Chief Theodore Barnes |
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Interim Chief Mace McIntosh |
Chief Richard A. Bull |
Chief Emil Slionys |
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Chief Richard A. Bull |
Chief John Everett Faulkner |
Chief Marion Clay |
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Acting Chief George Pettit |
Chief Lester Arrowsmith |
City Marshal / Chief Walter Daniel Williams |
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Marshal William Franklin “Frank” Montgomery |
Marshal Walter Gosney |
Marshal William Franklin “Frank” Montgomery |
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Marshal Samuel N. Slater |
Marshal T.R. Ward |
Marshal Orville Pate |
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Marshal W.F. Gipson |
Missing 1888-1892 |
Marshal Eldon Shipley (E.S.) Cushing |
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Marshal Bennet (B.B.) Record |
Marshal William McCummons |