Becky Chestnut Replaces Denton Carlson as Police Chief

(SAN RAMON)—Becky Chestnut is the new law enforcement commander.

Dec. 15, Chestnut, who has more than 20 years of law-enforcement experience, will lead a department facing rising service demands.

(PHOTO: San Ramon City Website)\

Chestnut replaces Chief Denton Carlson, who announced his retirement in Sept. after 18 years with the department, including three as chief. Public information from Contra Costa News reported that Carlson oversaw the department during a period of sharp growth in calls for service.

The SRPD’s 2024 annual report showed calls for service reached 78,805, a major increase over prior years. Despite the rise, Priority 1 response times remained under five minutes, a benchmark Carlson frequently highlighted.

Carlson also reported a 35% drop in violent crime in 2024. Property crime, especially theft, increased during the same period. His tenure focused on balancing community outreach with rising service demands and changing expectations around mental health, transparency and public safety.

The San Ramon Police Department announced her appointment earlier this month, noting her background in patrol, investigations, leadership development, and officer wellness.

Chestnut began her career with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in 2002, working in detention, patrol and later in the homicide and sexual-assault units. She spent 13 years with the agency before joining SRPD in 2015 as a patrol officer.

Her promotions came quickly.

In 2016, she became corporal in the Community Resource & Crime Prevention Division, where she helped run the Community Academy, volunteer programs, and a Mental Health Follow-Up Project.

She moved into a lieutenant role in 2022, serving as a Watch Commander in Patrol before taking on Investigations. In that assignment, she oversaw youth services, school-resource officers and helped launch a behavioral-health partnership with the San Ramon Valley Fire District to improve response to mental-health calls.

In 2023, Chestnut was promoted to captain and began leading the Administrative Services Division. That division manages Professional Standards, Training, Records, Evidence, Finance and Crime Prevention, functions that support the department’s internal operations and long-term planning. She has also focused on officer wellness, playing a major role in creating SRPD’s Peer Support Program.

She previously served on the board of the SRPD Police Officers Association from 2016 to 2021. Chestnut holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Union Institute & University and a master’s degree in leadership communication from Purdue University.

City Manager Steven Spedowfski said Becky Chestnut’s deep understanding of our city and its values makes her the ideal choice for Chief of Police.

“Her leadership and commitment to our residents will be of great benefit to our community," Spedowfski said.

Along with former Chief Denton Carlson (to the left), congratulating her achievement on being the first female captain in the history of the San Ramon Police Department.

(PHOTO: @Dentonlcarlson via Instagram)

Chestnut replaces Chief Denton Carlson, who announced his retirement in September after 18 years with the department, including three as chief. Public information from Contra Costa News reported that Carlson oversaw the department during a period of sharp growth in calls for service.

The SRPD’s 2024 annual report showed calls for service reached 78,805, a major increase over prior years. Despite the rise, Priority 1 response times remained under five minutes, a benchmark Carlson frequently highlighted.

Carlson also reported a 35% drop in violent crime in 2024. Property crime, especially theft, increased during the same period.

His tenure focused on balancing community outreach with rising service demands and changing expectations around mental health, transparency and public safety.

(PHOTO: Contra Costa News)

Chestnut takes leadership during a time when police agencies across the Bay Area are adjusting to new public-safety challenges, from technology to behavioral-health response to community expectations about equity and accountability.

She has not yet released her full strategic vision for the department.

SRPD Communications has previously said Chestnut’s background in wellness, cross-agency partnerships and community programs gives her “deep insight” into the issues shaping modern policing.

We have requested an interview with the Chief-Designate, Chestnut, to discuss her plans for the department. As of now, we are awaiting her response.

In our continued coverage, we plan to:

• Ask about her priorities for her first 100 days.
• Explore how she will adjust or expand SRPD programs, particularly around community outreach and wellness.
• Speak with residents, business owners, and neighborhood groups about their expectations for the new chief.

If you have any questions, comments, or you would like to add to the story, contact me at ananya.s@lead4earth.org.