Clearlake Police chief accepts job with city of Martinez
- Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake’s police chief is preparing to move on to his next big assignment.
Chief Andrew White has accepted a position with the Martinez Police Department.
The Martinez City Council is set to approve his new employment contract at its meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
His first day on the job in Martinez will be Jan. 3. He succeeds Chief of Police Manjit Sappal who retired in March.
The news of White’s departure follows by two weeks Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin’s announcement that he will retire at year’s end.
White, 38, has been chief in Clearlake since July of 2018 after serving 16 years with Suisun City. He had been commander and second-in-charge at the Suisun City Police Department when he was hired to lead the Clearlake Police Department.
“It has been an honor leading the members of the police department to make Clearlake a cleaner, safer city,” White said in a Thursday statement from the city. “I am proud of the work the department, in partnership with the community, have done to improve our city — the city I have called home since moving here in 2018. Although my time here is coming to an end, I am confident the department is well positioned to build upon our successes and overcome any challenges that lie ahead.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of the impact Chief White has had on the city during his time here,” said City Manager Alan Flora. “His leadership has enabled our department to excel in a way that is critical to the ongoing transformation of Clearlake.”
White currently oversees a department with a $7 million budget that includes 24.5 sworn positions, as well as code enforcement and animal control staff.
The California Department of Finance’s latest population estimates put the city of Clearlake’s population at 16,500 residents, compared to 36,908 in Martinez, located in Contra Costa County.
The Martinez Police Department is reported to have 37 sworn officers and 15 full-time professional staff, with an annual operating budget of $12 million.
White’s annual salary with the Clearlake Police Department is $169,000. The proposed contract between White and the city of Martinez calls for White to be paid an annual salary of $238,771.46, or $19,897.62 per month, a nearly $70,000 increase over his Clearlake Police salary.
The new contract also gives him 25 days of vacation per year, with the opening balance of 80 hours; a standard sick rate accrual with an opening balance of 40 hours; holiday pay at the same rate as other employees; and he becomes eligible for the California Public Employees’ Retirement System 3% at age 55 retirement plan.
In his report for the Martinez City Council’s Nov. 16 meeting, acting City Manager Michael Chandler explained the “rigorous pre-screening process” that a select group of candidates went through, which included being interviewed by three separate panels of public safety executives, civil leaders and an internal staff panel consisting of the city of Martinez’s executive management team.
Chandler said he selected White for the police chief job, noting White impressed them at all stages of the interview process and met the bench marks of the city’s ideal candidate.
Creative solutions and collaboration
During his tenure with Clearlake, Chief White spearheaded what city officials called “a robust effort” to address crime and blight that incorporated community engagement, collaboration and creative problem solving that has seen crime drop to historic lows and significantly reduced blight.
He advanced a department culture of excellence, accountability and wellness that dramatically and positively impacted retention and recruitment, reducing turnover to historic lows and increased community satisfaction.
White also has overseen the building of the new animal shelter and upgraded animal control services in the city. An animal lover himself, he’s even fostered some dogs in his own home.
During his tenure, the city had to respond to disasters, including flooding in 2019 and the 2021 Cache fire that destroyed dozens of homes.
Then there was the challenge of COVID-19, the lengthy sheltering in place requirements it brought and the specific impact on the justice system — from jails to the courts — that affected law enforcement.
White’s important work wasn’t just limited to the city. He also collaborated with other agencies and local governments, offering increased assistance in times of need.
White’s first day on the job in Lake County found him at Lakeport City Hall, assisting staff there with the response to the Mendocino Complex fire, which has caused the entire city to be placed under mandatory evacuation.
During this past summer, the Clearlake and Lakeport city councils approved a supplemental law enforcement services agreement between the two cities’ police departments. That agreement allowed for Clearlake Police officers to help Lakeport Police with policing duties in the city while Lakeport dealt with short staffing.
White also did double duty as police chief and finance director from 2020 to 2021 as the city was recruiting a permanent finance director.
Flora said of White, “He will be deeply missed by the City Council, police department staff, the entire organization, community members, and me personally. However, I know that his efforts have positioned the department in a way that enables us to move forward and carry on the goals and efforts set into place. We know he will serve the community of Martinez with honor and integrity, and wish him and Charlotte our very best.”
White thanked everyone for their support, including the City Council, Flora, city and department staff, public safety partners and the community. “I will miss everyone, but I also look forward to hearing about the many great things that are to come in Clearlake!”
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