Ben Alldritt is the Chief of Police for the City of Lafayette

This is a series of articles intended to introduce to the community key members of the City’s Team of employees who serve Lafayette’s residents through their respective position and areas of expertise.

Ben Alldritt is the Chief of Police for the City of LafayettePhoto byTthe City of Lafayette

Lafayette, Calif. -- Benjamin Alldritt began his law enforcement career with the California Highway Patrol in 2002 and was a motor officer in the San Jose and San Francisco Area Offices.

In 2006, Ben joined the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff as a Deputy Sheriff. He was initially assigned to County Patrol and later to the Town of Danville Police Department, where he served as a traffic motor officer and a detective investigating property crimes, crimes against persons, as well as theft and embezzlement.

In 2012, Ben was promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to the Martinez Detention Facility. In 2013, he was assigned to the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division, supervising a unit that handled misdemeanor and felony persons and property cases. Later he supervised the Homicide Unit.

Sergeant Alldritt was promoted to Lieutenant in 2016, where he served as a Watch Commander with countywide responsibility and then as the Assistant Commander of the Patrol Division. In 2018, the City of Lafayette selected Ben to be its Chief of Police.

(Lafayette, Danville, and Orinda are contract cities of the Office of the Sheriff, which provides policing and public safety services to those cities through a contract).

Chief Alldritt manages a department with 16 sworn law enforcement officers and sergeants, six professional staff, and three part-time staff. He reports directly to the Lafayette City Manager and is responsible for police operations and services within the City while following the Office of the Sheriff's policies and procedures.

Chief Alldritt’s formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University.

Although a typical day for the Chief includes day-to-day management of the department, it’s not unusual to find him on the streets answering calls from police dispatch. “I’m always available for priority calls and even non-priority calls, when officers are tied up on other calls for service,” says Chief Alldritt.

Throughout the year, Chief Alldritt participates in a variety of high-profile city and Chamber of Commerce events, including the annual two-day Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. The event, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors, is one of Contra Costa County’s most popular street festivals. Chief Alldritt’s goal for the festival is to make it a safe and fun event for families by coordinating event security with multiple outside agencies.

Chief Alldritt’s focus is on community policing by developing lasting partnerships, engaging and communicating with all stakeholders, and being proactive and responsive. Chief Alldritt continues to prioritize emergency preparedness, school safety, and traffic safety.

“I am proud of the men and women who serve the City of Lafayette with pride and dedication,” says Chief Alldritt. “The entire police department, along with city staff and leaders, are focused on providing the highest level of service possible to our residents, businesses, and visitors. We thank them for their continuing support.”

For more information email lafayettelistens@lovelafayette.org call (951) 685-2111 or go online to https://www.lovelafayette.org