Politics & Government

East Palo Alto Police Chief Named City Manager

Council appointed him to fill the position on an interim basis.

The East Palo Alto City Council has appointed the city's police chief to serve as interim city manager.

Police Chief Ron Davis, who has led the Police Department since 2005, was selected to take over as interim city manager in a closed session of the city council Tuesday.

"It's a great opportunity and I'm very honored to have been selected," Davis said.

Davis, who graduated from Harvard University's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, will serve as interim city manager while the city council recruits a permanent replacement for M.L. Gordon, who announced his retirement in January. Under Davis' watch as police chief, the homicide rate in East Palo Alto has dropped 50 percent and the overall crime rate has been reduced by 20 percent, according to the city.

Davis said he will use his familiarity with issues facing the community to continue the agenda that the city council has started with the previous city manager.

"I think it's a great opportunity to continue to serve the community," Davis said.

The city has not announced who will head the Police Department during the transition. 

--Bay City News contributed to this report. 

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