Charles Plummer (sheriff)
Charles C. Plummer | |
|---|---|
| Sheriff of Alameda County, California | |
| In office January 1987 – January 2007 | |
| Succeeded by | Greg Ahern |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 17, 1930 Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California |
| Died | March 4, 2018 (aged 87) |
| Citizenship | American |
| Occupation | Police officer |
Charles Plummer (1930–2018) was the 21st Sheriff of Alameda County, California from 1987 to 2007. He worked in law enforcement for 54 years prior to his death.
Early life
[edit]Charles C. Plummer was born in on August 17, 1930 in Fort Bragg, California.[1][2] Plummer was hitchhiking and met a California Highway Patrol officer. The officer told him he'd make a great police officer. As a result, Plummer enrolled in Santa Rosa Junior College's law enforcement academy.[2]
Career
[edit]After graduating college, Plummer joined the Berkeley Police Department in 1952.[2] He was a field commander when riots erupted in People's Park in 1969. In 2007, Plummer said: "I wish I would have hit some people harder during the riots. I regret that."[2][3]
In 1976, Plummer was appointed Chief of Police for Hayward, California.[2]
Alameda County Sheriff
[edit]In 1986, Plummer was elected the 21st Sheriff of Alameda County.[2]
During his tenure, the Alameda Sheriff's Department became the only western law enforcement department to have an accredited bomb squad.[2]
Plummer retired 13 January 2007 after serving five terms as sheriff. Gregory J. Ahern, a 26-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was elected to succeed him. Plummer continued to work one or two days a week at the department's Office of Emergency Services as an unofficial "sheriff emeritus" until his death.[4]
Later life and legacy
[edit]Plummer had three children, a girl and two boys. Plummer continued to work two days a week at the Alameda Sheriff's Department after retiring as sheriff. He died on March 4, 2018.[2]
In the immediate wake of his death, his successor, Gregory Ahern, called Plummer "one of the most dedicated and respected law enforcement leaders in our nation" and an "American hero."[2]
References
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]- ^ Lucia, Rich (April 2019). "Sheriff Charles C. Plummer" (PDF). California Sheriff. 34 (2): 12–14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kelly, George (2018-03-06). "Charles Plummer, former Alameda County sheriff, dies at 87". East Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ Metinko, Chris (15 January 2007). "Top cop recalls career as he retires from job". San Jose Mercury News. MediaNews Group. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ^ Metinko, Chris (8 January 2007). "Sheriff Charles Plummer calls it a career". Contra Costa Times. MediaNews Group. Retrieved 2007-02-11.[dead link]
Sources
[edit]- Honoring Sheriff Charles C. Plummer | Capitol Words
- ALAMEDA COUNTY / Sheriff appoints his son to key anti-terrorism post
- Congressional Record, Volume 148 Issue 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)
- [1]
External links
[edit]- History of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, with details on Plummer's tenure