The picturesque city of Sausalito in Marin County now boasts a lesbian police chief. Stacie Gregory's appointment to the position was effective January 7, according to an announcement on the city's website, and a news release.
Gregory had been serving as acting police chief since June 2022.
Ascending to the post makes Gregory the second woman and first member of the LGBTQ community to serve as police chief in the city, which has a population of about 7,000.
The announcement stated that City Manager Chris Zapata decided to forgo a formal recruitment process for Gregory, who has been with the department for 26 years, "based on her distinguished career in public safety, her education and training, and her performance as acting chief during a time beset by staffing shortages and operational challenges."
"Chief Gregory has proven she is extremely capable. Her promotion is based on multiple factors, including her extensive experience with Sausalito residents, local businesses, the Police Department, and all city departments," Zapata stated in the release. "Her institutional knowledge of the Police Department and performance as acting chief brought stability and continued the legacy of community trust which was a hallmark of former Chief [John] Rohrbacher."
Rohrbacher retired in December 2023, according to an article in the Marin Independent Journal. The article stated that he went on medical leave in June 2022, leading to Gregory becoming acting chief.
The release stated, "Chief Gregory's appointment is a positive reflection of a city that holds diversity, inclusion, and belonging as core values."
For her part, Gregory said she is proud to be able to continue to serve.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as chief and will work hard to keep our community safe," Gregory stated. "I will continue to enhance the relationships our department has made in the community and will prioritize communication, transparency, and respect."
Gregory, who started as a police officer in 1997, became a sergeant in 2006 and a lieutenant in 2016 before she was promoted to captain and then acting chief.
She has received multiple awards highlighting her service, including Employee of the Year, the Chief's Superior Performance Award, and the Sausalito Extreme Act of Kindness Award, according to the release.
Gregory was sworn in at a ceremony January 13 at the Spinnaker Restaurant on the city's waterfront, with views of San Francisco.
Gregory did not return an interview request by press time.
Fremont and Napa have also had open LGBTQ police chiefs, as the Bay Area Reporter has previously reported. Chris Magnus, a gay man, served as police chief in Richmond from 2006-2015.
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