The Riverside Police Department was founded in 1896 and has grown from a small frontier town police force to a large metropolitan police department with 373 sworn police employees and 147 non-sworn employees. Our agency is renowned nationally for its leadership in creating innovative approaches to critical law enforcement situations. Several tactics developed by the Riverside Police Department, such as the High-Risk or Felony Traffic Stop, have been adopted as the standard throughout the country.
The department is a team-oriented agency that combines a close partnership with the community and a policy of enforcement oriented police work to build a stronger, safer city. The Riverside Police Department strives to continue this tradition by looking for dedicated men and women to provide fresh ideas for the future.
Police Headquarters is located at 4102 Orange Street in downtown Riverside.
The headquarters building houses the Office of the Chief of Police, Administrative Division (Personnel and Training), Records Bureau, Finance and Community Services Bureau.
The Field Operations Division, General and Special Investigations, and Traffic Services are divided between our facilities at 8181 Lincoln Ave and 10540 Magnolia Avenue.
Riverside Police Department
Chief's Of Police 1895 - Present
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Chief Frank P. Wilson
1895 - 1907
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Chief William B. Johnson
1907 - 1908
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Chief Dale G. Clayton
1908 - 1910
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Chief Samuel G. Harbison
1910 - 1912
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Chief Phillip M. Coburn
1912 - 1913
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Chief Frank F. Corrington
1913 - 1915
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Chief John A. Vankirk
1915 - 1918
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Chief Carl J. Carlson
1918 - 1920
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Chief Elmer S. Diess
1920 - 1926
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Chief Benjamin F. Shirley
1926 - 1928
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Chief Nestor Brule
1928 - 1934 & 1938 - 1944
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Chief Hal Heaston
1934 - 1938
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Chief Jack Bennett
1944 - 1965
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Chief Lambert “Curly” Kinkead
1965 - 1972
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Chief Fred Ferguson
1972 - 1977
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Chief Victor Jones
1977 - 1983
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Chief Linford Richardson
1983 - 1992
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Chief Ken Fortier
1993 - 1997
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Chief Jerry Carroll
1998 - 2001
![](/rpd/sites/riversideca.gov.rpd/files/images/chiefs/chief20.jpg)
Chief Russ Leach
2001 - 2010
![](/rpd/sites/riversideca.gov.rpd/files/images/chiefs/chief-diaz.jpg)
Chief Sergio G. Diaz
2010 - 2019
![](/rpd/sites/riversideca.gov.rpd/files/images/chiefs/Chief_Gonzalez_NEW_sepia_history.jpg)
Chief Larry V. Gonzalez
2019 - Present