SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA – San Ramon was once the sleepiest, quietest town in the East Bay. Now, it’s had some major crime challenges.
Bombers exploded an ATM inside the Target earlier this year, in a crime that brought in the FBI and national attention. And just last month, a Tesla driver allegedly drove 120 MPH under the influence, causing a fatal crash.
That’s the challenging environment that will face San Ramon’s new Chief of Police, who is taking over this month.
Captain Becky Chestnut has been selected as the city’s next chief of police, stepping into the role in mid-December as longtime Chief Denton Carlson retires.
Chestnut’s appointment was announced by the City of San Ramon in a recent news release, which notes that she brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience, including time with both the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the San Ramon Police Department. She will be the city’s first female police chief.
A familiar face in San Ramon policing
Chestnut joined the San Ramon Police Department in 2015, working as an officer in Patrol and in the Community Resource and Crime Prevention Divisions. In that role she helped run SRPD’s Community Academy, oversaw social media outreach, supported the department’s volunteer program, and worked on the Mental Health Follow-Up Project, the city says.
From there, she moved steadily up the ranks. She was promoted to corporal in 2016, then to sergeant in 2019, where she worked in Patrol and in Professional Standards and helped recruit and hire more than 30 officers, conduct internal affairs investigations, coordinate training, and manage the Field Training Officer Program..
In 2022, Chestnut became a lieutenant, serving first as Watch Commander for Patrol, then in Investigations, where she oversaw Youth Services and School Resource Officers and helped facilitate the San Ramon Valley Fire Behavioral Health Project. She was promoted again in 2023 to captain, overseeing the Administrative Services Division, including Professional Standards and Training, Community Resource and Crime Prevention, Evidence and Property, Records, and Finance.
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Before coming to San Ramon, Chestnut spent roughly 13 years with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, working in detention facilities, patrol, and in investigations, including assignments in homicide.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Union Institute and University and a master’s degree in Leadership Communication from Purdue University.
That’s an impressive resume for sure!
City leaders praise her experience
City Manager Steven Spedowfski said Chestnut’s long history in San Ramon and her deep knowledge of the community were key factors in the decision.
“Becky Chestnut’s deep understanding of our city and its values makes her the ideal choice for Chief of Police,” Spedowfski said in the city’s announcement, adding that her leadership and commitment to residents will benefit the community. San Ramon
For her part, Chestnut called the appointment an honor and emphasized both service and trust.
“It’s an honor to serve the San Ramon community and to lead the dedicated men and women of this Police Department,” she said. “I am committed to supporting our employees so they can continue providing exceptional service and maintaining the community’s trust.”
Change at the top as Carlson retires
Chestnut will take over from Chief Denton Carlson, who announced earlier this fall that he would retire at the end of 2025 after more than 27 years in law enforcement and over two decades serving San Ramon. Carlson joined SRPD when the department was formed in 2007 and rose through the ranks, serving as patrol officer, detective, SWAT team commander, public information officer, and later captain before becoming the city’s fifth chief of police in 2022.
City officials have credited Carlson with building out the department’s Community Resource and Crime Prevention Division and strengthening its social media and emergency communications work. In announcing his retirement, they praised his focus on transparency, community trust, and professional excellence.
Indeed, current challenges with crime aside, Carlson appears to have presided over a city that has–overall–stayed extremely safe even as it has expanded dramatically and introduced tempting new retail targets for would-be thiefs.
Chestnut’s promotion comes after an internal recruitment process that began once Carlson’s plans to retire became public. With her appointment effective Dec. 15, she will lead the department into the new year as San Ramon continues to grow and grapple with issues like traffic safety, property crime, youth programs and mental health calls for service.
