Turlock City Council to vote Tuesday on new police chief appointment
The Turlock City Council is set to vote at its meeting Tuesday on the appointment of a new police chief.
If appointed, Jason Hedden will become chief of the Turlock Police Department and start in his new position on Feb. 16. Hedden comes to Turlock from Los Banos, where he has been working for the Police Department since 2004, most recently as a commander. From March to October 2021, Hedden served as acting chief of police, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In August 2021, the Turlock council hired Gary Hampton as interim police chief. It was the second time time that year that officials appointed the retiree to a temporary leadership position in the city.
Hampton previously was appointed acting Turlock city manager in January 2021, after former city manager Toby Wells was placed on investigative leave. Prior to that, he served as Turlock police chief and interim city manager between 2006 and 2011. After briefly working in Tracy, Hampton served as Turlock’s city manager from mid-2016 to mid-2017.
He stepped in following the October 2020 retirement of Turlock police chief Nino Amirfar, who spent almost three decades in the department.
Because of COVID-19 safety restrictions newly enacted by Turlock, Tuesday’s council meeting, as well as its Jan. 25 meeting, will be held solely online, using Zoom. Though the meetings are closed to in-person appearances, the public can still participate using electronic devices or telephone.
To join a council meeting on a computer, smart phone or tablet, go to us02web.zoom.us/j/84924629186. Alternatively, go to the Zoom website zoom.us/join and enter the webinar ID number 849 2462 9186.
To join by phone, dial 669-900-6833 and enter the webinar ID number 849 2462 9186.
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