Sacramento’s 46th police chief sworn in as first woman to lead the department
Kathy Lester took her oath Thursday at Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento as the city’s 46th police chief, the first woman to hold the role in the Police Department’s 172-year history.
Lester, a 27-year department veteran and former deputy chief of operations, was selected last year by city leaders to head the agency of about 700 sworn officers and 1,100 total employees.
She joined nearly two dozen officers recently promoted in rank, who were also celebrated Thursday at the NBA arena.
“There’s really just no way to explain my journey here,” the Sacramento native said, addressing scores of police officers and their loved ones from the floor of the Kings’ home court. “My career choices have not always been glamorous.”
Lester has a bachelor’s degree in government and international relations from Sacramento State and a master’s in geosciences from Mississippi State University.
She spoke Thursday of dropping out of Cordova High School, joining the Army at age 17 and working a variety of odd jobs from custodian to dough-maker at Pizza Hut.
Lester joined the Sacramento Police Department in 1994 as a dispatcher. It paid double what she was making at the time, she said.
“I realized pretty quickly that this is a profession that creates a career, but more importantly, really, a life with purpose.”
She also credited 10 years spent as a single mom as invaluable life experience. Her husband and her three teenage children helped pin her badge Thursday morning.
Her predecessor, former Chief Daniel Hahn, swore in Lester along with 23 other officers recently promoted within the department, including her three deputy chiefs: Norm Leong, Adam Green and Steve Oliveira.
Lester said public safety agencies face a “nationwide call to evolve.”
“We see a nationwide increase in violence and hate, and disadvantaged communities that are being further stressed.”
She also believes her department has many strengths to build upon, saying she believes it is a “very progressive agency” that listens to the community.
“I think we do a great job of looking at forward-thinking practices,” Lester told reporters in an interview after Thursday’s ceremony. “For example, we established a research and development division, and we’re looking at practices from all over the country.”
As for specific goals, Lester recently said the department will take the “30x30” pledge, aiming to increase the proportion of female sworn officers to 30% by 2030, from its current rate of about 17%.
City Manager Howard Chan selected Lester after a nationwide search.
“We went through the whole shebang and, needless to say, Kathy knocked it out of the park,” Chan said Thursday.
Lester officially assumed the role at a small ceremony in the City Council chambers on New Year’s Eve, when a surge of COVID-19 prevented large gatherings.
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 2:51 PM.
