After less than 36 hours in town, the new police chief spent her
first day on the job meeting new faces, attending meetings, touring
the city, getting fitted for her uniform and then meeting with a
real estate agent.
After less than 36 hours in town, the new police chief spent her first day on the job meeting new faces, attending meetings, touring the city, getting fitted for her uniform and then meeting with a real estate agent.
“I’m excited to finally get here and get started,” Denise Turner, Gilroy’s first female police chief, said before driving up to San Jose for her uniform Monday afternoon. “So far it’s going great – there was a fantastic reception this morning by staff with coffee and pastries, and they’ll be showing me around the city.”
Turner – a former chief with a 26-year career at the King County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction in parts of Seattle, Wash. – rolled into town late Saturday night. She awoke to a beautiful Sunday and got breakfast at the Westside Grill before a sunny day of touring and eyeing household items at the Gilroy Premium Outlets, she said.
“It was gorgeous – 75 and sunny. It’s certainly not like that in Seattle,” Turner said of her old home, adding that she plans on finding a house to lease in Gilroy by the beginning of April.
Officers welcomed Turner’s arrival because it means they have a permanent leader. Capt. Scot Smithee served as the department’s interim chief after former GPD Chief Gregg Giusiana retired in late January.
“I am excited to have a new chief here,” said GPD Officer Cherie Somavia, who has served the department for eight and a half years. “(Turner) is very personable, and I look forward to working with her.” As for any changes Turner might make, Somavia said she did not have anything particular in mind, just that “change is difficult sometimes, but it’s good.”
Before she makes any changes, though, Turner said her goal is to “look, listen and learn.”
“I need to learn about the city and its values, learn about the people. I’m not going to jump right into making changes because I want to find out how the operations run and then address any changes that need to be looked at.”
Last year a consultant concluded that the Gilroy Police Department should beef up proactive patrolling, which is one way to ensure a community’s safety, Turner said. Reactive patrolling is another element, she added, and she will learn more about Gilroy’s idiosyncrasies during a three-day retreat with command staff in the near future.
“She’s got a lot to learn about the department, the city, City Hall,” said Sgt. Jim Gillio. “She’s having a lot thrown at her, and there’s a sharp learning curve ahead … But overall, we’re happy to have the chief hunt over and have a solid chief in place with a proven track record.”
After several closed city council sessions and the consideration of a controversial letter drafted by the Gilroy Police Officers Association, the city council unanimously approved Turner Feb. 4.
Denise Turner Bio
Age: 49
Marriage status: single
Children: none
Phone: (408) 846-0310
E-mail: po*********@**********ca.us
