Charles Plummer (sheriff)
{{for|other Charles Plummers|Charles Plummer (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Charles C. Plummer
| image =
| office = Sheriff of Alameda County, California
| term_start = January 1987
| term_end = January 2007
| predecessor =
| successor = Greg Ahern
| spouse =
| alma_mater =
| website =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|8|17}}
| birth_place = Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California
| death_date = {{death date and age |2018|3|4 |1930|8|17 |mf=yes}}
| citizenship = American
| occupation = Police officer
}}
Charles Plummer (1930–2018) was the 21st Sheriff of Alameda County, California from 1987 to 2007. He worked in law enforcement for 54 years prior to his death.
Early life
Charles C. Plummer was born in on August 17, 1930 in Fort Bragg, California.{{Cite journal |last=Lucia |first=Rich |date=April 2019 |title=Sheriff Charles C. Plummer |url=https://www.calsheriffs.org/userfiles/Magazines/2019-04_CSSA_Magazine.pdf |journal=California Sheriff |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=12-14}}{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=George |date=2018-03-06 |title=Charles Plummer, former Alameda County sheriff, dies at 87 |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/03/05/charles-plummer-former-alameda-county-sheriff-dies-at-87/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=East Bay Times |language=en-US}} Plummer was hitchhiking and met a California Highway Patrol officer. The officer told him he'd make a great police officer. As a result, Plummer enrolled in Santa Rosa Junior College's law enforcement academy.
Career
After graduating college, Plummer joined the Berkeley Police Department in 1952. He was a field commander when riots erupted in People's Park in 1969. In 2007, Plummer said: "I wish I would have hit some people harder during the riots. I regret that."{{cite news |last=Metinko |first=Chris |date=15 January 2007 |title=Top cop recalls career as he retires from job |work=San Jose Mercury News |publisher=MediaNews Group |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_5017490?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1 |accessdate=2007-12-21}}
In 1976, Plummer was appointed Chief of Police for Hayward, California.
= Alameda County Sheriff =
In 1986, Plummer was elected the 21st Sheriff of Alameda County.
During his tenure, the Alameda Sheriff's Department became the only western law enforcement department to have an accredited bomb squad.
Plummer 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 continued to work one or two days a week at the department's Office of Emergency Services as an unofficial "sheriff emeritus" until his death.{{cite news
| first = Chris
| last = Metinko
| title = Sheriff Charles Plummer calls it a career
| url = http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/16413246.htm
| work = Contra Costa Times
| publisher = MediaNews Group
| date = 8 January 2007
| accessdate = 2007-02-11
}}{{Dead link|date=November 2020}}
Later life and legacy
Plummer had three children, a girl and two boys. Plummer continued to work two days a week at the Alameda Sheriff's Department after retiring as sheriff. He died on March 4, 2018.
In the immediate wake of his death, his successor, Gregory Ahern, called Plummer "one of the most dedicated and respected law enforcement leaders in our nation" and an "American hero."
References
=Footnotes=
{{Reflist}}
=Sources=
- [https://archive.today/20130414105045/http://capitolwords.org/date/2002/10/17/E1916-2_honoring-sheriff-charles-c-plummer/ Honoring Sheriff Charles C. Plummer | Capitol Words]
- [http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/ALAMEDA-COUNTY-Sheriff-appoints-his-son-to-key-2591642.php ALAMEDA COUNTY / Sheriff appoints his son to key anti-terrorism post]
- [http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2002-10-17/html/CREC-2002-10-17-pt1-PgE1916-2.htm Congressional Record, Volume 148 Issue 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
- [http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_3538329 ]
External links
- [https://www.alamedacountysheriff.org/history.php History of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office], with details on Plummer's tenure
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Plummer, Charles}}