San Leandro appoints interim police chief to permanent position

SAN LEANDRO — Angela Averiett, a more than 30-year veteran of Bay Area law enforcement, has been named San Leandro’s new chief of police, the city announced Tuesday.

Averiett had been interim chief of the department since late April.

In a social media announcement of the appointment, which was effective Monday, City Manager Fran Robustelli called Averiett “a well respected law enforcement veteran, who is an advocate for diversity, inclusion and community building. Chief Averiett will provide immediate attention to pressing needs, such as transparency, investment into personnel, and continuing to implement police oversight for the department.”

Responding to her appointment, Averiett said: “It is an honor to be gifted the chance to serve the dedicated women and men of the San Leandro Police Department and the rich, diverse group of San Leandrans. Our profession faces many challenges, but we have a tremendous opportunity to set an example for progressive, transparent, accountable, and community-focused policing. I look forward to working closely with all of our internal and external stakeholders to make the San Leandro Police Department a pioneering model of contemporary policing for others to emulate.”

Prior to becoming the San Leandro interim chief, Averiett had been the Los Altos Chief of Police since since July 2022.

After more than three years as a Hayward police records clerk, she served as an Alameda County sheriff’s deputy from January 2000 to June 2001 before joining the Hayward Police Department as an officer. She rose through department for years, achieving the rank of lieutenant in January 2019. She then became a BART Police Department lieutenant and was appointed a BART deputy chief in February 2020 before moving to the Los Altos job.

She succeeds former San Leandro chief Abdul Pridgen, who left the department in February amidst an internal investigation into possible misconduct that had begun in September of 2023. In announcing the departure, the city did not say if Pridgen resigned or was fired. The city has never detailed the charges against him.

Chief Averiett holds a bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from St. Mary’s College. She also graduated from the Alameda County Leadership Academy and the Los Angeles Police Department Leadership Academy. She currently serves on a number of community, civic, and professional organizations, including the California Association of Hostage Negotiators, Peace Officer Standards and Training AB392 Use of Force Guidelines Committee, NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), and Women Leaders in Law Enforcement.