by Denise Rockenstein
Chief Robert Chalk has retired from the Clearlake Police Department (CPD). He received commendations for his 25 years of service to the agency, 13 of which he had spent as chief, during the City Council”s Dec. 14 meeting.
Chalk served his final day with the Clearlake Police Department on Saturday, Dec. 30. During his tenure Chalk and the CPD saw the passage of Measure P — a sales tax initiative that supports the police department — and the formation of Clearlake Community Patrol, as well as other community-serving enhancements.
Mayor Joyce Overton presented Chalk with a proclamation from the Lake County Board of Supervisors commemorating his retirement. The proclamation recognized Chalk for his many years of service and enhancements in public safety. It also commended Chalk for the cooperative efforts he maintained in working with other government entities such as the Board of Supervisors, the probation department and other agencies in Lake County. The proclamation was signed by Lake County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox and supervisors Ed Robey and Jeff Smith.
The city presented Chalk with a plaque. Mayor Overton read from the plaque, which in part stated: “In appreciation for your services and dedication to the City of Clearlake Police Department, your skills and experience has benefited the community and provided guidance for our employee career enhancements while giving support to the organizational management of the police department as commander in chief of the agency. Your leadership, dedication and professionalism is a tribute to law enforcement.”
Chalk began service with the CPD in 1981 having previously served with the Lake County Sheriff”s Office since June 1975. In 1993, Chalk was appointed to Chief of Police. He accepted his commendations during the Dec. 14 meeting on behalf of the entire police department stating, “Thanks, but it”s important to realize I didn”t do this myself. Throughout my career I”ve had a lot of help by a lot of different people in different capacities.”
After recognizing his wife Marsha for her continued support throughout his career, Chalk went on to commend his department. “If it weren”t for the entire department I would not have been able to achieve what I”ve been able to achieve,” Chalk said. “And I”ve said it before, that a department can operate without a chief but a chief cannot operate without a department.
“That”s very important to me to have had such great loyalty, experienced and hard working staff that have been able to excel me in my endeavors throughout the entire career,” Chalk stated.
Chalk also extended appreciation to council members, past and present, as well as to all members of city staff including city administrators and legal counsels.
Prior to ending his speech with recognition of out going council members Peggy Smith and Bob Malley, Chalk commended the public. “Where else could a chief have had such great support for this long a tenure of time — I don”t know. But I”ve been blessed with having a public that for many years has been understanding and by at-large,” he said, “by at large, the public in this community has supported the police department beyond what a regular expectation would have been.
“The community has pulled behind us when we needed. They have worked hard and strived to ensure the guaranteed funding for the police department, referencing the 1995 passage of the half-cent sales tax commonly referred to as Measure P, by an overwhelming 86 percent of the vote within the city — and folks, that tells you that this community supports its police department and by at-large is a good, honest, law abiding community.”
During his years with the City of Clearlake, Chalk established the Clearlake Community Patrol, which has enhanced the public”s safety and provided support to the department as well as to other emergency response units. The city also saw the establishment of a School Resource Officer in partnership with the Konocti Unified School District along with other programs aimed at the youth of the community.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
