Hanford has selected Captain Stephanie Huddleston to take over as the city’s next Police Chief.
Hanford City Manager Mario Cifuentez announced the selection on Friday.
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The big picture: Huddleston ascends to the department’s top spot after nearly two decades as a police officer in Hanford.
- She first joined the department as a patrol officer in January 2006 and became the highest-ranking female officer in department history when she was promoted to Sergeant.
- Huddleston, a lifelong Hanford resident, has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminology from Fresno State and will pursue a doctorate in criminal justice leadership from Liberty University.
- Her appointment will be effective on Jan. 22.
What they’re saying: “I believe Captain Huddleston is the right person to move the department forward in our growing community,” Cifuentez said in a statement. “Her character and leadership are beyond reproach, and I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish in the years ahead.”
- Huddleston said she feels that she has been preparing for this opportunity since she started her law enforcement career.
- “One of the reasons I’ve never wanted to leave here is that I’ve always felt that support from our community,” Huddleston said in a statement. “I’ve never felt like we lived in a place where they don’t like us or don’t trust us.”
