Police Chief Joel Bryden Announces His Retirement

Walnut Creek Police Department Chief of Police, Joel Bryden will be retiring from the force in 2013. The Walnut Creek Police Association Facebook page posted the announcement yesterday. Bryden informed the Department via email on Wednesday.

“Any accomplishments since I have been Chief, have been due to the outstanding officers and staff, I’ve just been lucky to be apart of it” Bryden told Walnut Creek Patch this afternoon. He also wanted to stress that it is not an immediate retirement, but will happen in the next six to eight months.

Bryden has served as Chief since June 2009, prior to that position he was the assistant to the Chief in San Diego where he for a total of 28 years. “Spending time with friends, family, and maybe traveling” are a few things that the Chief when he is officially retired.

Bryden told the Contra Costa Times that his retirement has nothing to do with the issues raised on the Walnut Creek Police Officers Association Facebook page.