Chief of Police Bio
Tom Schwedhelm has been a police officer for the Santa Rosa Police Department for over 26 years. During the course of his career, he has been a patrol officer, field training officer, property crimes detective and violent crimes detective. He also held several collateral assignments: SWAT team member, SWAT team leader, Use of Force instructor, Ethics facilitator, Chemical Agents instructor and Crowd Control instructor.
Tom was promoted to sergeant in March of 1996. Shortly after promotion, he was assigned the collateral duty of a supervisor with the SWAT team. In 1999, he was selected to supervise the Sex Crimes & Family Violence Investigations Section (now called the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Team). During his tenure in that section, he supervised the evolution of the Department’s Computer Forensic expertise, the improvement and efficiency of tracking and investigating registered sex offenders as well as providing training to the entire department in the area of Domestic Violence.
In 2002, he was promoted to the position of Lieutenant. His initial responsibilities included that of patrol watch commander and the manager of the newly created Police Training Officer program. In August of 2004, he was promoted to the position of Captain. He was the Captain in charge of both the Field Services Division and the Special Services Division. On March 12, 2009, he was appointed by City Manager Jeff Kolin as the Acting Chief of Police, and as the official Chief of Police on May 3, 2009.
Tom received his Associate of Science degree from Santa Rosa Junior College in Administration of Justice in 1993, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s College in Business Management in 1997. He received his Master of Arts degree in Psychology (focusing on Organizational Development) from Sonoma State University in 2005.
Tom is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, class 109, and Leadership Santa Rosa, class 19. He holds a Lifetime Limited Services Teaching credential and has been part of the Adjunct Faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College since 1985.