Oakdale police chief announces retirement
Oakdale police Chief Lester Jenkins announced this week that he will retire in July, ending 26 years of service in the community.
Jenkins, 58, worked his way through the ranks of the Oakdale Police Department, serving as police officer, corporal, sergeant and lieutenant before being appointed police chief in 2012.
Under Jenkins’ leadership, the Oakdale Police Department saw the return of the equestrian unit, the K-9 unit and the adoption of a new badge that more accurately reflects Oakdale’s unique heritage, according to a press release.
Jenkins said he will retire July 31 because he started his career and his chief job that month. He will retire with his wife, who is the vice principal at Magnolia Elementary School.
“I couldn’t ask for more than what I got out of this job working for this city,” Jenkins said. He said he would have been happy being an officer for 26 years but, “I always like to learn something new, try on something different. That is what motivated me to promote.”
Jenkins said he and his wife plan to take it easy for a few months but he said he’ll likely continue to volunteer for the department, on the equestrian unit or for the animal shelter.
“It is very apparent to me that Lester enjoys serving the citizens of Oakdale and that the decision to retire was by no means easy for him,” City Manager Bryan Whitemyer said in a press release. “Lester has been a great leader for the community, the department, and the organization. Oakdale is a safer and stronger community for his work.”
Jenkins is a longstanding member of community-based organizations including Oakdale Rotary and the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency and the Stanislaus County Association of Law Enforcement Executives.
More information on the search for Jenkins’ replacement will be announced in the coming weeks.
This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Oakdale police chief announces retirement."