PITTSBURG — Capt. Steve Albanese, a longtime Pittsburg police officer, has been named Pittsburg’s subsequent police chief.

Pittsburg Metropolis Supervisor Garrett Evans introduced the promotion on social media, naming Albanese to succeed Pittsburg Police Chief Brian Addington when he retires in mid-July. Addington, who joined the power in 1994, served as chief for 9 years.

Addington introduced his intent to retire in a social media put up in February and shortly thereafter town employed a recruiting agency to conduct a nationwide search, narrowing it down to 5 candidates. After three panels — legislation enforcement, metropolis administration and neighborhood — interviewed the candidates, the suggestions concerning the best choice was clear, Evans mentioned.

“I’m assured that Capt. Albanese is the fitting particular person to steer the Pittsburg Police Division into the long run,” Evan mentioned in a press release. “He understands the division’s values and the necessity for continued neighborhood belief and transparency.

“Capt. Albanese possesses the fitting mixture of information, abilities, and powerful forward-thinking management that units him aside,” he added. “He’ll construct on what we have already got, and he’ll proceed to make sure we’re a modernized division dedicated to professionalism, excellence and belief.”

A Pittsburg native, Albanese has labored with the Pittsburg Police Division – in almost each facet of municipal policing – for the previous 25 years, most lately serving as a division spokesman.

Albanese holds an affiliate’s diploma in liberal arts from Los Medanos Faculty, a bachelor’s diploma in criminology from Cal State Fresno, and a grasp’s diploma in management from St. Mary’s Faculty. He’s additionally a graduate of the FBI Nationwide Academy and California Peace Officers Requirements and Coaching Command Faculty.

“It’s an honor to steer the women and men of the Pittsburg Police Division and proceed to be part of this neighborhood,” Albanese mentioned in a press release. “I’m dedicated to the foundations which have been put in place by Chief Addington over the previous 10 years and can guarantee our division stays conscious of the wants of the neighborhood.”

Albanese mentioned the Pittsburg Police Division will proceed “to develop partnerships to cut back crime, present skilled policing, and construct belief in the neighborhood.”

“A police division is just pretty much as good because the neighborhood that helps it,” he mentioned.

The chief added that the division was “lucky to have an especially supportive neighborhood that wishes to make their metropolis a greater place to dwell.”

“We stay up for proceed constructing relationships with our native companies by means of our Enterprise Watch program, proceed working with our quite a few Neighborhood Watch teams, and proceed our robust partnership with the Pittsburg Unified Faculty District.”

Albanese credited Addington with “setting a terrific basis” for the division, however added that shifting ahead, he and his workers will proceed to concentrate on crime discount, as public security is their major aim.

“All through the summer season we will probably be specializing in a particular operation to take unlawful firearms off the streets, and cut back total crime,” he added. “Over the following two months, our officers will proceed to conduct large-scale patrol enforcements, prohibited particular person compliance enforcement, and different particular operations to maintain our neighborhood protected. We’re partnering with native, state, and federal legislation enforcement businesses all through this marketing campaign.”

Albanese mentioned one of many division’s biggest challenges within the final couple of years was associated to the pandemic.

“One of many greatest challenges the division has confronted is with the ability to join and have interaction with the neighborhood, take heed to their wants, and talk the excellent work the women and men of the Pittsburg Police Division have been doing to maintain their neighborhood protected,” he mentioned. “We’re wanting ahead to getting out and fascinating with the neighborhood at a few of our deliberate occasions, together with Nationwide Night time Out on Aug. 2 at Small World Park.”

Albanese additionally thanked the women and men of the Pittsburg Police Division “for his or her laborious work and dedication.”

“Since beginning my profession with the Pittsburg Police Division, I’ve at all times needed to work to make this neighborhood stronger, safer, and a neighborhood to be happy with,” he added. “I’ve been lucky sufficient to have labored in positions of progressive accountability to permit me to broaden my data and profession in policing. Being the chief of the Pittsburg Police Division is an impressive alternative and I’m excited to get began.”

Albanese will probably be sworn in and take over as chief on July 14.