Turlock’s former police chief now Seaside’s top cop

Turlock’s former police chief has taken the top law enforcement job in Seaside.

Rob Jackson was sworn in Thursday as the Monterey County city’s police chief, about three months after he resigned as Turlock’s chief in mid-August after about 4 1/2 years on the job. His salary is $169,665, according to a Seaside news release. The city has about 34,000 residents, making it about half the size of Turlock.

City Manager Gary Hampton announced Aug. 11 that Jackson would be resigning effective that day, two days after Jackson spoke at a City Council meeting about crime trends and how police would combat them.

Jackson said his departure may have appeared abrupt to the public, but it was not. He said he became Turlock’s chief in February 2012 under a five-year contract. He said the contract called for him to meet with the city manager six months before the contract expired to discuss his future with the city. Jackson said he and Hampton had been talking for about a month before he resigned.

“It came to the point where it was time for a change for me and the department,” Jackson said. “We did well and I enjoyed my time. We did some good things.”

He said that included keeping crime down during a time of department downsizing. He added that three to five years is the typical tenure for a police chief.

Jackson, 49, was born in Ceres and has spent his life in Stanislaus County. Now that their youngest son has joined the Coast Guard, Jackson said he and his wife, Melinda, are empty nesters and decided to look elsewhere for opportunities. He said Seaside was on the top of their list.

Jackson has 28 years of experience in law enforcement. Before becoming chief in 2012, he was a Turlock police captain for four years and served nearly 20 years with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. The Seaside news release said Jackson was among 34 applicants for the job.

“Chief Jackson’s experience, skill and leadership qualities made him the clear choice of the interview panel, and I look forward to his contributions here,” Seaside City Manager Craig Malin said in the release.

Hampton said Turlock has engaged the executive search firm Bob Murray & Associates to conduct recruitment throughout the western U.S. for the city’s next police chief. He expects a couple of Police Department employees to apply for the position. The salary range for police chief is $159,528 to $193,896, according to information on the Bob Murray & Associates’ website.

Hampton said he expects Turlock to have a new police chief in January. Police Capt. Nino Amirfar has been Turlock’s acting police chief since Jackson’s departure.

This story was originally published November 7, 2016 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Turlock’s former police chief now Seaside’s top cop."