Full Notification

Ripon Police Chief Edward Ormonde retiring after 25 years
 
August 9, 2023
 
After a distinguished career in law enforcement spanning twenty-five years, Ripon Police Chief Edward Ormonde has announced his retirement, effective September 15, 2023. Ormonde started his journey with the Ripon Police Department in 1998 as a patrol officer, and over the years, he held various positions within the Department, including 20 years in supervisory and management roles. As chief, Ormonde led a team of 67 personnel, including 24 sworn police officers, creating an internal atmosphere focused on their mental and physical wellbeing.  His team served and protected the community with excellence, while combining a proactive policing philosophy with a focus on community-based policing practices.
Ormonde's vision for a better police department was evident in the initiatives he implemented during his tenure, which included:

• A body worn camera program to enhance accountability with staff and transparency within the community, which helped reduce citizen complaints to less than one per year.
• The COPS on Campus Program that placed additional officers on school campuses during various times of the school day, building trust with students and faculty, while adding another layer of school site security for each campus.
• The Data-Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety program, which has proved incredibly effective in reducing crime, crashes, and traffic violations, making Ripon one of the safest communities in California.
• Expanding the License Plate Reader program and updating the City-wide camera system, which has contributed to the success of the department in solving crimes that have occurred. 
• Emphasizing the importance of non-enforcement community contacts for increased community engagement while establishing regularly scheduled community outreach and informational programs. 
• Ensuring that all officers were equipped with the most up-to-date training and technology so that the community could trust and depend on their law enforcement team.

 
Ormonde's impact on the community goes beyond his initiatives. He has earned the respect of his officers and the community he served. Mayor Mike Restuccia added, “We are bidding farewell to a chief with the highest values, morals, and ethics a community could ask for. He has instilled a community-oriented culture in our police officers that will continue long after his retirement.  He will always be a dear friend to me, and I wish him all the best in retirement.  I have no doubt that he will continue to achieve great things.”  His dedication to his work and the community he served is evident in the success of his initiatives and the growth of the department under his leadership.
 
Lieutenant Daniel Sauer will be taking on the role of Police Chief following Ormonde's retirement. With years of experience serving our community as a police officer, Lieutenant Sauer has demonstrated a strong commitment to public safety and community engagement. We have no doubt that under his leadership, our police department will continue to provide the highest level of service and maintain the safety and well-being of our residents.
 
The City of Ripon expresses its gratitude to Chief Ormonde for his exemplary service and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors. Chief Ormonde will be putting out a personal message to the community as his retirement date draws closer.