07/07/2021
Police Chief Appointed
Abdul Pridgen, Police Chief, has been appointed by City Manager Fran Robustelli to serve as the next Police Chief of San Leandro, effective September 13, 2021. Chief Susan Manheimer will continue her interim service until September 12, 2021.
Chief Pridgen comes to San Leandro after serving as the police chief of the City of Seaside. Prior to Seaside, Chief Pridgen spent 26 years with the City of Fort Worth, Texas, Police Department where he attained the highest rank of assistant chief of police.
“Chief Pridgen is a well-respected law enforcement veteran, who is an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and a community builder,” said City Manager Fran Robustelli. “Chief Pridgen will provide immediate attention to pressing needs, such as transparency, investment into personnel, and implementing police oversight for the department.”
In response to his appointment, Chief Pridgen stated, “It is an honor to be gifted the chance to serve the dedicated men and women of the San Leandro Police Department and the rich, diverse group of San Leandrans. Our profession faces many challenges, but we have a tremendous opportunity to set an example for progressive, procedurally just, transparent, accountable, and community-focused policing. I look forward to working closely with all of our internal and external stakeholders to make the San Leandro Police Department a pioneering model of contemporary policing for others to emulate.”
Chief Pridgen received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Dallas Baptist University and his Master of Public Administration from Tarleton State University. In addition, he received training from the Southern Police Institute, FBI National Academy, FBI National Executive Institute, and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Chief Pridgen serves as the president of the California Police Chiefs Association.
Message from Police Chief Eric R. Nuñez, Los Alamitos Police Department, on Chief Pridgen's appointment
For the last three years, Chief Abdul Pridgen has been a steadfast colleague serving on the Board of Directors for the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA). Over this last year, while I served as President of CPCA, Chief Pridgen served as the 2nd Vice President and due to an early retirement of one of our members, he got pushed up to 1st Vice President position during one of the most difficult periods in our Nation’s history, but with command, he rose to the occasion to help lead us through a global pandemic and national civil unrest. He did an incredible job covering for me for 6 weeks, as I was battling COVID-19 and handled media inquires and legislative meetings in my stead. It is safe to say that we have went from respected professional colleagues to trusted friends over this past year.
Chief Pridgen is a tested leader and one with vision, character and the wisdom to understand the complexities of our profession and how to better serve the public safety needs of our communities. He also possesses the emotional intelligence necessary to maintain and improve on the quality-of-life issues for San Leandro and the State of California as it relates to community and public safety.
As the current President of CPCA, I can assure you that law enforcement leadership and the profession in general are being left in the most capable hands. Chief Pridgen has already demonstrated his commitment to transparency and accountability in our profession to our legislative leaders and has a tremendous amount of willingness to work with our lawmakers to produce meaningful and reasonable police reform legislation.
When Chief Pridgen asked me to provide a statement commemorating his appointment, he told me how blessed he felt for having this opportunity to lead such a fine police department and to serve such an incredible community. I responded that San Leandro is equally blessed to have such a committed, dedicated, ethical, caring and proven leader to serve as their next Police Chief.
I wish my colleague and friend congratulations and want the community of San Leandro and Police Department to know they are in for an experience in authentic leadership and the best of class at the rank of Police Chief.
Eric R. Nuñez
Chief of Police
Los Alamitos Police Department
Police Chief Appointed
Abdul Pridgen, Police Chief, has been appointed by City Manager Fran Robustelli to serve as the next Police Chief of San Leandro, effective September 13, 2021. Chief Susan Manheimer will continue her interim service until September 12, 2021.
Chief Pridgen comes to San Leandro after serving as the police chief of the City of Seaside. Prior to Seaside, Chief Pridgen spent 26 years with the City of Fort Worth, Texas, Police Department where he attained the highest rank of assistant chief of police.
“Chief Pridgen is a well-respected law enforcement veteran, who is an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and a community builder,” said City Manager Fran Robustelli. “Chief Pridgen will provide immediate attention to pressing needs, such as transparency, investment into personnel, and implementing police oversight for the department.”
In response to his appointment, Chief Pridgen stated, “It is an honor to be gifted the chance to serve the dedicated men and women of the San Leandro Police Department and the rich, diverse group of San Leandrans. Our profession faces many challenges, but we have a tremendous opportunity to set an example for progressive, procedurally just, transparent, accountable, and community-focused policing. I look forward to working closely with all of our internal and external stakeholders to make the San Leandro Police Department a pioneering model of contemporary policing for others to emulate.”
Chief Pridgen received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Dallas Baptist University and his Master of Public Administration from Tarleton State University. In addition, he received training from the Southern Police Institute, FBI National Academy, FBI National Executive Institute, and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Chief Pridgen serves as the president of the California Police Chiefs Association.
Message from Police Chief Eric R. Nuñez, Los Alamitos Police Department, on Chief Pridgen's appointment
For the last three years, Chief Abdul Pridgen has been a steadfast colleague serving on the Board of Directors for the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA). Over this last year, while I served as President of CPCA, Chief Pridgen served as the 2nd Vice President and due to an early retirement of one of our members, he got pushed up to 1st Vice President position during one of the most difficult periods in our Nation’s history, but with command, he rose to the occasion to help lead us through a global pandemic and national civil unrest. He did an incredible job covering for me for 6 weeks, as I was battling COVID-19 and handled media inquires and legislative meetings in my stead. It is safe to say that we have went from respected professional colleagues to trusted friends over this past year.
Chief Pridgen is a tested leader and one with vision, character and the wisdom to understand the complexities of our profession and how to better serve the public safety needs of our communities. He also possesses the emotional intelligence necessary to maintain and improve on the quality-of-life issues for San Leandro and the State of California as it relates to community and public safety.
As the current President of CPCA, I can assure you that law enforcement leadership and the profession in general are being left in the most capable hands. Chief Pridgen has already demonstrated his commitment to transparency and accountability in our profession to our legislative leaders and has a tremendous amount of willingness to work with our lawmakers to produce meaningful and reasonable police reform legislation.
When Chief Pridgen asked me to provide a statement commemorating his appointment, he told me how blessed he felt for having this opportunity to lead such a fine police department and to serve such an incredible community. I responded that San Leandro is equally blessed to have such a committed, dedicated, ethical, caring and proven leader to serve as their next Police Chief.
I wish my colleague and friend congratulations and want the community of San Leandro and Police Department to know they are in for an experience in authentic leadership and the best of class at the rank of Police Chief.
Eric R. Nuñez
Chief of Police
Los Alamitos Police Department
