Sacramento’s top cop isn’t going anywhere. Police Chief Rick Braziel was a finalist for the same job in Seattle. But he told reporters Wednesday he’s sticking around.
Braziel: “Seattle’s a great place, but Sacramento’s a great place too. So it’s gotta be better than what I’ve got. And I’ve got a great job and a great organization. So that’s the decision. That’s why I’m here.”
The chief says he isn’t looking anywhere else …
Braziel: “I’ve actually asked the command staff, if I ever think about doing this again, to smack me.”
… and says he wants to retire in Sacramento – probably in the next three or four years.
Mayor Kevin Johnson says it’s a big win for the city:
Johnson: “We now have an opportunity to have continuity in our police department. We now have an opportunity to continue the good work we’ve been doing out in the community under his leadership.”
Braziel took a voluntary eight percent pay cut when he was appointed police chief in late 2007 because of the city’s budget problems. As part of staying in Sacramento, he’ll now get that pay cut restored.
