Retirement celebration for Chief Penn to be held Friday

After decades of service to the citizens of Pittsburg and beyond, Pittsburg Police Chief Richard Penn announced his upcoming retirement at the end of June. As his last days with the police force end, we will look back on Chief Penn’s work in the community.

Penn has been the Chief of Police since 2008 and has been with the department for 20 years. In that time, Penn has lived and worked under one tenet: “The police are simply an extension of society, folks that are paid to do what we all ought to be doing anyway.”

Penn has worked diligently to create and maintain good relationships between law enforcement and the community, speaking at NAACP events, assisting with fundraisers for local children, and pitching in wherever he can. He even gives out his personal cell phone number so community leaders can reach him at any time.

“We have to start listening and we have to talk things out. It may be that we have to do that multiple times, but it’s got to be done,” he said.

Last year, the Pittsburg Lions Club asked Penn to speak at one of their meetings. Penn told of the many positive things going on between the department and the community, sharing how thankful he is that things have remained peaceful throughout the widespread adversity endured in recent years.

In the announcement of his retirement, Penn said, “This decision was not made lightly and makes me excited and sad at the same time. It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Pittsburg. I truly feel that you are served by the finest group of men and women there are, and I’m proud to work side by side with them… This is our community just as it is your community, and we have a commitment to it just like you do.”

He stated that he has received wonderful support from the community and from city leaders. He said that the boys and girls in blue are supported not just with words but with actions, and they truly appreciate it.

“The first day they gave me a paycheck, I said I can’t believe I get paid to do this,” said Penn in a recent interview. “The last day I get a paycheck, I’ll say the same thing.”

The chief ’s final day on the job will be July 9. A retirement celebration will be thrown for Penn at the police station at 2 p.m. All community members are invited to attend.