■ Andrew Bidou to head neighboring city’s larger department
Benicia police Chief Andrew Bidou has been chosen to be Vallejo’s new police chief and will start that job Oct. 4, Vallejo City Manager Daniel E. Keen announced Thursday.“The city of Benicia is not only losing an excellent police chief, but also a significant asset to the organization,” Benicia City Manager Brad Kilger said.
“That said, I am very happy for Andrew, as this opportunity is a natural next step for him in his career,” Kilger added. “I wish him nothing but the best.”
The city manager said he is “exploring options” for an interim police chief to take over the position after Bidou’s last day in Benicia, Oct. 3. The interim chief is expected to serve until a new chief can be recruited, Kilger said.
“I am very excited and honored to have been selected for (Vallejo’s) chief of police position,” Bidou said of his appointment. “I am looking forward to getting to know the men and women of the police department and the community.”
Bidou succeeds Joseph Kreins, who became Vallejo’s interim police chief in 2012 after retiring as Novato Police Department chief.
Kreins, who announced in February his intent to retire once the city found his replacement, had filled the vacancy left by the retirement of Vallejo police Chief Robert Nichelini.
Bidou said he believed his years in law enforcement have prepared him for Vallejo’s challenges.
“I’m eager to carry forward the progress which Chief Kreins has achieved in the department,” he said. “The Vallejo police chief position is a unique and special position, and I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to apply my skills and experience to the hard work ahead of me.”
Bidou, the son of former Benicia police Chief Pierre Bidou and a native of Benicia, began his law enforcement career with the Newark Police Department as an 18-year-old cadet.
He rose through the department, earning the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant and then captain.
During his time with Newark police, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in management from St. Mary’s College, a master’s certificate in executive leadership from Cornell University and a graduate certificate in criminal justice education from the University of Virginia. He also graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.
In Newark, Bidou was assigned to many areas of police work, including patrol, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), K-9, gang enforcement, narcotics detective, range master and field training officer.
He also helped the department develop its Community Policing program.
Bidou joined the Benicia police force as deputy chief in 2008, and was named interim chief when Sandra Spagnoli resigned to accept the command of the San Leandro Police Department on Jan. 10, 2011. Within the month, City Manager Brad Kilger appointed Bidou as Benicia’s chief of police.
Bidou has been married to his wife, Marcie, for 17 years, and the couple has two children, Joseph, 12, and Christopher, 11.
Among his notable achievements in Benicia, Bidou has been recognized for creating the Benicia Policing Strategy that uses improved resource management, crime analysis and problem solving to address both crime and quality of life concerns.
That approach has led to three consecutive years of decreasing crime rates and a corresponding increase in residents’ satisfaction.
“I am most proud of the men and women of the Benicia Police Department,” Bidou said Thursday. “They are the ones working day and night in sometimes difficult and often complex situations for the betterment of the community. Benicia is fortunate to have such a conscientious and dedicated police force.”
Bidou also has been recognized for improving training and selection standards for both civilian and sworn staff and for increasing the department’s professionalism and diversity.
He said among the many departmental achievements accomplished under his leadership were “improved efficiencies, effective resource deployment, being fiscally responsible, making employee training a priority, developing contemporary crime-reducing strategies, creating meaningful partnerships with all segments of the community and focusing on community outreach and citizen participation.
“As a result, the city has enjoyed a low crime rate and heightened quality of life,” he said.
But the improvements didn’t come by his hand alone, Bidou said.
“Keep in mind, credit for these successes spans the entire department, other city employees, and many members of the community,” he said.
Keen praised Bidou’s accomplishments in Benicia.
“Andrew Bidou’s experience in implementing community-oriented policing in two communities was very important to me, and will be very helpful in improving the way our police department develops stronger relationships with all parts of Vallejo,” Keen said.
“I was also impressed with his commitment to improving the diversity of his workforce in Benicia, and his successful efforts to work collaboratively with other police departments, including the city of Vallejo.
“He’s had a front-row seat to what’s been going on in the city of Vallejo over the past several years, and I expect that his transition to police chief here will be smooth.”
Keen said Bidou has done much to strengthen the Benicia Police Department and its reputation, and also noted that under Bidou’s three-year command Benicia’s already-low crime rates had decreased even further.
“He is credited with implementing a policing strategy that involves utilizing resources management, crime analysis and problem solving in a systematic manner to address crime and quality-of-life issues in the community,” Keen said.
“He is also well known for his professionalism and leadership in both the department and throughout the organization.”
Bidou said Benicia is “a very special place to live and work, in a large part due to the excellent level of service the city provides to its citizens. I am very grateful to have served the community of Benicia for the past six years.
“I will greatly miss the members of Benicia Police Department, but look forward to working with the men and women of the Vallejo Police Department,” he said. “I am honored to have been selected for this position and excited to take on this new opportunity.”
I am saddened Benicia is losing a great Police Chief in Andrew Bidou. He has made some excellent changes for the department during his tenure here.
Vallejo will be a challenge and well deserving of his leadership. I know that whatever Chief Bidou does in Vallejo will be beneficial to all.