Riverside, Ca- Chief Russ Leach is pleased to announce the promotion of Detectives Frank Patino and Ron Whitt to the rank of Sergeant, effective January 13, 2006. Both will be assigned to the Office of Field Operations.

Sergeant Frank Patino began his law enforcement career in the city of Upland in 1979 and made the lateral transfer to the Riverside Police Department in 1981. Patino worked in Traffic Accident Investigation followed by a total of 12 years as a Motorcycle Patrol Officer, with a three-year stint as School Resource Officer for the Poly High area between motor assignments. He was a Traffic Investigation Field Training Officer, on the Major Accident Investigation Team and a Youth Resource Officer. Patino, 50, was promoted to Detective in 2001, working in Criminal Intelligence and Domestic Violence units before his most recent role in Traffic Investigation. Sergeant Patino will be assigned to Field Operations. With a dual bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Chapman University, Sergeant Patino is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice at California State University-San Bernardino. Married 16 years to wife, Karen, Frank has two daughters and one stepson, Riverside Police Officer Jeff Schultz.

Sergeant Ron Whitt is a Riverside native, a 1981 graduate of Ramona High School, who joined the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1986. He made his transfer to the Riverside Police department in 1988, where his patrol duties included the first Bike Team, Field Training Officer, Gang Unit and six years with the SWAT Team. He was promoted to Detective in 2001. His assignments included Crimes Against Persons and Child Abuse units, and Traffic Investigation. Sergeant Whitt, 42, is also an instructor in building entry and searches at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Academy. Ron and wife Lisa have two children, Erin and Ryan.

Ceremony: New Sergeants Patino and Whitt, as well as other recent promotions (of Captains Mark Boyer and Pete Esquivel, Lieutenants Bruce Loftus, Mike Perea, Rick Tedesco, and Bob Williams; Sergeants Kim Crutchfield, Jay Greenstein and Derwin Hudson; and Detectives Aaron Brandt, Ed Collins, Carl “Mike” Turner and Daniel Warren) will be recognized and receive their new badges in a ceremony Friday afternoon, January 6, 2006, at 2 p.m., Riverside City Council Chambers.