After 29 years in law enforcement, Pittsburg Police Chief Steve Albanese has announced his retirement. The process of hiring a new chief will begin “in the coming months,” according to a city news release. Albanese will remain in his role until a successor is chosen, helping to ensure a smooth transition.
Albanese has spent his entire career in Pittsburg. He joined the police department in 1997 after obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Cal State Fresno. He served as a police captain before his promotion to chief in 2022. He holds a Master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Management from Saint Mary’s College of California and is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
“Chief Albanese’s leadership has had a lasting and positive impact on our Police Department and the City of Pittsburg,” said City Manager Darin Gale. “His dedication to community partnerships, modern policing practices, and staff development has positioned the department for long-term success. I look forward to working with Chief Albanese over the next few months and appreciate his continued support as we prepare for this transition.”
“Serving as Police Chief has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Albanese said. “When I became Chief of Police, I committed to this community to continue to be responsive, to develop partnerships to reduce crime, and to provide fair and professional policing to all. I am extremely proud of the work of our officers and the entire police department. We have made excellent strides in providing professional police services, increasing our outreach and community engagement, and reducing crime to a five-year low. I want to thank the men and women of the Pittsburg Police Department for their hard work and commitment to make Pittsburg a community to be proud of.”
Several other Bay Area police chiefs have recently left their posts or announced their departures. These include Sean Washington (Fremont), Jamie Knox (Walnut Creek), Bisa French (Richmond), and Floyd Mitchell (Oakland).