Tom Chaplin, MS
Tom Chaplin served as the Police Chief for the city of Walnut Creek from 2013 until his retirement in 2020. Prior to his appointment, he served with the Citrus Heights Police Department for seven years, where he served as a lieutenant in the Patrol Division and the Investigative Services Division. He also served as commander in the Patrol Division and Investigative Services Division. In addition to being a member of the department start-up team, he spent nine months in the role of deputy chief of police.
Chief Chaplin spent five years with the California Department of Justice. During this time frame, he was assigned as a special agent on the Sexual Predator Apprehension Team, California Bureau of Investigation, Sacramento Regional Office; a special agent supervisor for the Investigative Support Team – California Attorney General’s Office – Northern California; and a special agent in charge for the Mission Support Branch, overseeing the Professional Standards Group, Background Investigations Group and Litigation Unit.
Chief Chaplin started his law enforcement career with the Sacramento Police Department (SPD). He served as a community services officer, a patrol officer, field training officer, neighborhood police officer and detective. He was an instructor at the police academy for the LD-12: Controlled Substances.
Chief Chaplin holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational studies and a Master’s degree in emergency services administration, both from California State University, Long Beach. He is an Executive Fellow for the National Police Foundation.
He is a graduate of the 44th class of the California Command College and has published an article in the California Journal of Law Enforcement titled “Cybercriminals have Passed Law Enforcement By. Let’s Catch Back Up!”
In his “retirement”, Tom is the founder and owner of Chaplin and Hill Investigative Services, he is the course coordinator for the POST Executive Development Course, he facilitates Team Building Workshops for agencies, and is an authenticator for Major League Baseball.
Tom has been the recipient of numerous leadership and service awards, including the Joseph Malloy award from the California Police Chiefs Association, a Distinguished Service Ribbon from the CHPD, a Medal of Valor from the Sacramento Police Department, and he was named Special Agent of the year while at DOJ.