It was ten years ago, June 26, 2006, that Citrus Heights Mayor Jeannie Bruins says the city “created something out of nothing.” It was on that date that the city started their very own police department. For the first six years following Citrus Heights’ incorporation, the city contracted with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement services.

Hundreds of police, family members, volunteers, interns, explorers, and citizen supporters packed the Citrus Heights Community Center auditorium to observe the decade milestone and to honor those who contributed to the success of the department.

The youngest attendee was two weeks old. The oldest was, ... well, ... old.

A good portion of the Citrus Heights community turned out to honor what Chief Christopher Boyd described as “the greatest men and women law enforcement has to offer.”

Promotions were announced and medals were presented to those who performed outstanding acts of heroism or selflessness.

The Medal of Valor was presented to Sgt. Jason Baldwin, Officer Chrystal Battaglia, Officer Nathan Culver, and Officer Kyle Shoberg. The Distinguished Service Medal was presented to Sgt. Kris Frey, Sgt. Ken Lewis, Officer Dave Jones, Officer Patrick McCoy, and Officer Kyle Shoberg Life Saving Ribbons were presented to Officer Elena Calderon and Officer Nicholas Oldwin

Nineteen newer officers were officially sworn in, although the rite was strictly ceremonial, since most have already been on the job for the past year.

In 2006, the first order of business had been to hire a police chief. Christopher W. Boyd answered the call and has headed the department since the very beginning. Chief Boyd noted at the anniversary celebration that they launched the original recruiting effort even before they had the materials to equip the officers they hoped to hire. “We had to convince recruits to join a department that had not even been created yet,” he said. It was a scramble to gather the gear to arm and mobilize the new hires and put them to work for the community.

It took six months to hire the first 90 sworn officers. That is the current number, as well. In all, 140 people make up the department today, from the person who answers the telephones to the officer who shows up at the scene of some unpleasantness.

The result of the Citrus Heights Police Department’s community involvement concept has had a measurable benefit. “The crime rate has gone down year by year,” Mayor Bruins said of the ten years since the police department was created.

Now, a decade later, Chief Boyd told the audience, “there are no people of greater character than the officers of the Citrus Heights Police Department.” He stressed that the job of a cop goes beyond the hazards they often face. It includes relating to the community on an everyday basis. It is the diplomat behind the badge worn by the men and women of the department who are “working to make Citrus Heights a better and safer community” that has endeared them to the citizens they are sworn to serve.