Charles Plummer (sheriff)
Encyclopedia
Charles C. Plummer served as the sheriff of Alameda County, California
from 1987 to 2007. He is believed to have been the longest serving police officer in California with more than 50 years of continuous service. He is considered a "legend" by many in the law enforcement community.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) is a full service law enforcement agency. Currently, the office has over 1500 employees, both sworn and professional staff. The ACSO is organized into five divisions. Each division has responsibility for different public protection functions. The ACSO has numerous different work locations spread throughout the county.
Plummer worked to get the ACSO certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the American Correctional Association (ACA), National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and the California Medical Association
(MA). Three of these accreditations are known as the "Triple Crown" and are considered a high honor in the law enforcement community. The ACSO is one of a handful of agencies to hold this distinction nationwide.
Throughout his career, Plummer had been known to oppose the issuance and distribution of Concealed Weapons permits to Alameda County residents, maintaining that citizens should be required to show a legitimate need for protection before the permit would be issued. In the year 2000, a total of only 150 concealed weapons permits were issued, out of the thousands of applicants. He also mandated that all applicants be forced to see a psychiatrist of Sheriff Plummer's choice, prior to the issuance of the Concealed Carry Permit. In addition, Plummer required that permit holders carry liability insurance for $1,000,000 and demonstrate to his Department's rangemaster that the applicants were proficient in the use of firearms. His unwillingness to compromise on this issue helped him to earn the nickname "Complete Control Plummer" or "Total Control Plummer".
Plummer was a field commander for the Berkeley Police Department
when riots erupted in People's Park
in 1969. Prior to being elected as sheriff, he was the Chief of Police for Hayward, California
.
Plummer officially retired 13 January 2007 after serving five terms as sheriff. Gregory J. Ahern, a 26 year veteran of the sheriff's office, was elected to succeed him. Plummer continues to work one or two days a week at the department's Office of Emergency Services as a sort of "sheriff emeritus."
On January 8, 2007, at his retirement ceremony celebrating 50-plus years in law enforcement, outgoing Alameda County Sheriff Charles Plummer remained unrepentant about his role as a Berkeley police officer during the People's Park riots:
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
from 1987 to 2007. He is believed to have been the longest serving police officer in California with more than 50 years of continuous service. He is considered a "legend" by many in the law enforcement community.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) is a full service law enforcement agency. Currently, the office has over 1500 employees, both sworn and professional staff. The ACSO is organized into five divisions. Each division has responsibility for different public protection functions. The ACSO has numerous different work locations spread throughout the county.
Plummer worked to get the ACSO certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the American Correctional Association (ACA), National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and the California Medical Association
California Medical Association
The California Medical Association is a professional organization representing more than 35,000 physicians in the state of California. The organization was founded in 1856 and is a member of the American Medical Association.-Audio-Digest Foundation:...
(MA). Three of these accreditations are known as the "Triple Crown" and are considered a high honor in the law enforcement community. The ACSO is one of a handful of agencies to hold this distinction nationwide.
Throughout his career, Plummer had been known to oppose the issuance and distribution of Concealed Weapons permits to Alameda County residents, maintaining that citizens should be required to show a legitimate need for protection before the permit would be issued. In the year 2000, a total of only 150 concealed weapons permits were issued, out of the thousands of applicants. He also mandated that all applicants be forced to see a psychiatrist of Sheriff Plummer's choice, prior to the issuance of the Concealed Carry Permit. In addition, Plummer required that permit holders carry liability insurance for $1,000,000 and demonstrate to his Department's rangemaster that the applicants were proficient in the use of firearms. His unwillingness to compromise on this issue helped him to earn the nickname "Complete Control Plummer" or "Total Control Plummer".
Plummer was a field commander for the Berkeley Police Department
Berkeley Police Department
The Berkeley Police Department is the municipal police department for the city of Berkeley, California, USA.-History:Shortly after Berkeley was incorporated in 1878, a town marshal and constables were elected to provide law enforcement. In 1909, the town marshal was appointed to be the first...
when riots erupted in People's Park
People's Park (Berkeley)
People's Park in Berkeley, California, USA, is a park off Telegraph Avenue, bounded by Haste and Bowditch streets and Dwight Way, near the University of California, Berkeley. The park was created during the radical political activism of the late 1960s....
in 1969. Prior to being elected as sheriff, he was the Chief of Police for Hayward, California
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
.
Plummer officially retired 13 January 2007 after serving five terms as sheriff. Gregory J. Ahern, a 26 year veteran of the sheriff's office, was elected to succeed him. Plummer continues to work one or two days a week at the department's Office of Emergency Services as a sort of "sheriff emeritus."
On January 8, 2007, at his retirement ceremony celebrating 50-plus years in law enforcement, outgoing Alameda County Sheriff Charles Plummer remained unrepentant about his role as a Berkeley police officer during the People's Park riots:
- "I wish I would have hit some people harder during the riots," said Plummer, speaking of the riots in Berkeley in the late-1960s. "I regret that."