By Jason Anderson
The Record
LODI, Calif. — Tod Patterson can relate to some of the troubled teens in Lodi, many of whom are growing up in single-parent homes, because he was once a lot like them.
Long before he was sworn in as the city’s chief of police, Patterson was a wayward youth. He struggled in school, got involved with the wrong crowd and started down a dangerous path in California’s Central Valley before his mother sent him to live with his father, a police officer, in Rio Vista.
Patterson, 49, became Lodi’s police chief on Nov. 4 after leading the understaffed department on an interim basis for five months. He has spent the past two months making personnel moves, meeting with civic leaders and community members, and plotting a course for the department.
Patterson said gang violence and other gang-related crimes are among his biggest concerns. He is particularly worried about the way gang culture is impacting young people in his city, where all too often children in their early teens are perpetrating or are victimized by gang violence.
“The biggest reason people join a gang is because of dysfunctional families,” Patterson said. “They’re looking for a place to fit in, and through no fault of their family members, whether it’s a mother or a father who have to work and sometimes work two jobs, the kids are home and looking for something to do. They get a little respect from these guys who look after them to an extent, and all of a sudden they’re into violent crime and they want to prove themselves or they have to prove themselves.
“I think the younger kids can be easily manipulated into doing something for the gang. I think that’s a job for us to have better documentation and a better understanding of why that demographic is getting involved. Is it because they need more things to do around here? Is it a lack of sporting facilities? If I didn’t have that as a kid, I don’t know where I would be. I see a lot of them where I was.”
Patterson became a standout athlete who excelled in football, baseball and other sports in high school. He went on to attend New Mexico State University on a football scholarship.
Patterson later followed his father, Lee, into a career in law enforcement. Patterson spent two years with the Solano County Sheriff’s Office and worked briefly for the Rio Vista Police Department before being hired by the Lodi Police Department in 1990.
Patterson has risen through the ranks over the past 25 years. He worked bicycle patrol as a young officer before being promoted to sergeant, lieutenant and captain. Patterson was named interim police chief when former Chief Mark Helms retired in June. On Oct. 21, City Manager Steve Schwabauer recommended that the City Council make Patterson the official police chief, a recommendation the council approved in a unanimous vote.
“When I had the opportunity to look at what the Lodi Police Department needed in its next police chief, I didn’t have to look that hard,” Schwabauer said.
When Patterson was sworn in as chief of police in November before a standing-room only crowd at Carnegie Forum, then-Vice Mayor Mark Chandler said city leaders had full faith and confidence in Patterson. (Chandler has since assumed the mantle of mayor.)
“It is our greatest expectation that you will perform admirably in leading and unifying this force, and protecting this community and its citizens,” Chandler said.
Patterson said he was touched by the overwhelming show of support.
“I have to admit I’m very humbled by all of this,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career to be put in good opportunities, and to know you have the city manager, the City Council and the staff behind you is just phenomenal.”
Patterson, who lives in Lodi with his wife, Andrea, and has a son and a daughter, said he plans to serve four to five years as police chief before he retires.
“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Patterson said. “I think the city of Lodi is one of the best places in the world to live. I have a great love for this community, and I’m going to work hard to make sure this is the best city it can be. I want people to feel safe in their homes and within the community.”
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