‘I am honored’: Bobby Davis will be Elk Grove’s first Black police chief
Bobby Davis, a 25-year veteran in law enforcement, has been named as the Elk Grove Police Department’s fifth police chief. He will be the city’s first Black police chief.
Elk Grove City Manager Jason Behrmann decided to promote the assistant chief to lead the department of 151 sworn officers and 108 civilian employees. Davis will be replacing Police Chief Timothy Albright, who is retiring sometime in late March after 16 years in Elk Grove and a total of 32 years in law enforcement.
The city manager announced Davis will be Elk Grove’s next police on Wednesday afternoon, saying he is confident Davis is the right person to lead the department into the future.
“He understands the department and values the support and trust that has been built with the community over the years,” Behrmann said in a news release. “He is committed to keeping Elk Grove safe through modern, innovative approaches to municipal policing and understands the importance of community engagement and partnerships in achieving this goal.”
Before joining the Elk Grove department in March 2020, Davis was a captain at the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. He worked for the Sheriff’s Office for 24 years, where he oversaw the Professional Standards, Patrol, Investigations, and Court Security divisions. He also worked as a public information officer and as the assistant police chief in Rancho Cordova, where the Sheriff’s Office is contracted to provide police services.
“I am honored and thankful for the confidence and trust of the city manager and the city council,” Davis said in the news release. “I am excited to have the opportunity to serve this wonderfully diverse community in this unique leadership role. I am thankful for Chief Albright’s ongoing leadership and guidance, and for the dedicated professional service of the women and men of our Elk Grove Police Department.”
City officials said Davis is a life-long Sacramento-area resident, who earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is in the process of obtaining a master’s degree. Davis has completed the FBI executive and command leadership courses, Senior Management Institute for Police-Executive Leadership Studies and the National Criminal Justice Leadership Institute Academy.
Davis serves on community-based programs including the Special Olympics, Reduction of African American Child Death Review Board, My Brother’s Keeper Initiative and the California Peace Officers Association Board of Directors.
“I have seen Assistant Chief Davis in the community. He is personable, compassionate, and visible,” Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen said in the news release. “He will do a great job leading the city’s police department and building bridges with the community.”
City officials said the date for Davis’ swearing-in ceremony will be announced when it’s scheduled, and the public will be invited to attend. When he’s sworn in, Davis will become Elk Grove’s first Black police chief, said city spokeswoman Kristyn Laurence.
Albright, who was sworn-in as police chief in September 2019, is credited with expanding outreach to the community by establishing a Community Engagement Unit; growing the department’s homeless outreach and crisis support teams; and expanding his officers’ use of body and dashboard cameras during his tenure. City officials have said Albright would work with the city manager in the search for a new police chief.
“No better feeling than to see those who pour their heart and soul into an organization, community, and profession achieve their dream of leading such an amazing department,” Albright wrote in a post on his Twitter account Wednesday evening. “Congratulations Chief Davis.”
