Early History of Los Altos Police
After Los Altos was incorporated as a City in 1952, the first employee hired by the City of Los Altos was Police Chief Joseph H. McClelland. Chief McClelland was tasked with the formation of the Los Altos Police Department. On April 1, 1953 the Los Altos Police Department was founded with the hiring of the first four police officers. Since 1953, the Los Altos Police Department has grown from 4 to 32 Police Officers plus 14 professional support staff which are comprised of Communications Officers, Records Specialists, Community Services Officers, and an Executive Assistant.
The original Los Altos Police Department was located in a vacant garage on First Street. Then after about a year, the department moved to a small retail building located at 355 State Street where they remained through 1959.
The photograph of Los Altos' first Police Chief McClelland was most likely taken in 1954 when the new police station at 355 First Street was dedicated.
During the years 1959 - 1968 the police department shared offices at the City Hall building located at 1 N. San Antonio Road while the current police building was being built. On April 15, 1968 the Los Altos Police Department building was dedicated by Mayor Audrey Fisher and Chief Roland Renshaw.
One of the first four Police Officers hired in 1953, Roland R. Renshaw, succeeded Chief Joseph McClelland as the Police Chief. Chief Renshaw is the longest tenured Chief in the history of the Los Altos Police Department serving over 20 years!
Los Altos Police Chief Alumni
During our 70 years as a police department, Los Altos has only had 12 Police Chiefs. The first 11 Police Chiefs are listed below and you can find out more about our current Police Chief Angela Averiett here.
Chief Joseph H. McClelland (1953 – 1958)
Chief Roland Renshaw (1958 – 1978)
Chief Richard Brannan (1978 – 1987)
Chief Brown Taylor (1987 – 1989 and Interim Chief - 2007)
Chief Ronald Jones (1989 – 1991)
Chief Lucy Carlton (1991 – 2001)
Chief Don Johnson (2001 – 2004)
Chief Robert Lacey (2005 – 2007)
Chief Tuck Younis (2007 – 2016)
Chief Andy Galea (2016 – 2022)
The original Los Altos Police building located on the 300 Block of State Street in Downtown Los Altos.
"LA POA" our beloved 1954 Ford police car. LA POA still makes guest appearances. It is stored and maintained by one of our gracious Los Altos residents.
Two police cars parked under a Heritage Oak Tree in the middle of Main Street. Circa 1953.
