Officer Spotlight – Chief Bisa French

Chief Bisa French leads the Richmond Police Department in California, drawing on more than 20 years in law enforcement. Chief French began her career with the Richmond Police Department in 1998. As a young officer, she worked various assignments in Patrol including Community Policing Officer, Field Training Officer, and Bicycle Patrol Officer. She then worked as a Detective in the Property Crimes Unit and Family Services Unit.

In 2006, Chief French was promoted to the rank of sergeant where she led, mentored, and developed officers in a variety of supervisory assignments to include Records, Patrol, and Sergeant of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Unit (DSVU). While working in this unit, she served on the FJC leadership team to develop a Family Justice Center in West Contra Costa County. Also during this time, she served as the department’s Public Information Officer.

Chief French was further promoted to: Lieutenant (2011) and assumed the role as the Dayshift Watch Commander in patrol; Captain (2013), assuming responsibility for the Central District, Youth Services Bureau, and Traffic Division; Assistant Chief (2016); and Chief (2020).

Chief French was the first African American and Latina Captain in the department and the youngest ever to hold the position. She attended and graduated from the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP). She also holds an undergraduate degree in Public Administration and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management.

Thank you for your service!