CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Citrus Heights Police Chief Ronald A. Lawrence will be installed as the 54th President of the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) for a one-year term, on March 9, 2019, at its 42nd Annual Training Symposium held at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. Chief Lawrence brings extensive experience to the position of President of CPCA, having been in law enforcement for 29 years. He has served as the Chief of the Citrus Heights Police Department since October 31, 2016, having previously served as Chief of the Rocklin Police Department for several years. Prior to becoming a Police Chief, he also served as a Police Captain with the Rocklin Police Department, a Lieutenant with the Palo Alto Police Department, a Sergeant and Police Officer with the West Sacramento Police Department, a Police Officer with the Lincoln Police Department, and a Deputy Sheriff with the Placer County and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Departments.

Chief Lawrence was appointed to the CPCA Board of Directors in 2011 and was elected third vice president in 2016. During his eight years on the CPCA Board, he has served on several committees and workgroups, chaired the association’s Finance Committee, as well as the Political Action Committee.

“Leading the California Police Chiefs Association this year as President is truly humbling. I join a long history of California police chiefs who have been consistently dedicated to keeping Californians safe, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished over the years. We have proven ourselves trustworthy partners to all who have an interest in public safety; we have championed good policy as well as opposed bad policy, in our focused efforts to protect California communities. There is much to accomplish in the coming year, and we stand ready to continue our legacy of leading professional municipal policing in the state. Our top priorities will be to work collaboratively at addressing issues facing our profession, including homelessness and the mentally ill, strengthening community trust, helping frame the conversation around police use of force, and working to pass legislation to standardize policies and training. I proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with all California police chiefs, who are committed to working with our stakeholders on these priorities and many other issues that impact the safety of California residents,” -Chief Ronald Lawrence.

Chief Lawrence is the second police chief to lead the Citrus Heights Police Department, taking the helm from the departments’ inaugural police chief, Christopher Boyd, who is the current City Manager. Boyd served as CPCA’s 49th President in 2014, prior to taking the City Manager position and hiring Chief Lawrence to lead Citrus Heights Police Department into the future. Boyd will administer the Oath of Office for Chief Lawrence’s CPCA inauguration on March 9, 2019. During Chief Lawrence’s tenure at Citrus Heights, the crime rate has lowered, and addressing homelessness has been a top focus.