Police Chief Tolber announces retirement after 28-year career

Following a 28-year career with the Redlands Police Department, Chief of Police Rachel Tolber has announced her intention to retire at the end of the year.

“Serving the community of Redlands, most recently as Chief of Police, has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Chief Tolber said. “I am thankful for those who have been a part of my journey, especially the men and women of the Redlands Police Department, law enforcement partners, City colleagues, City Council, and the community we serve. Thank you for your trust and confidence.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I have the utmost confidence that the Redlands Police Department is well positioned for continued success. I am committed to working with City leadership to ensure a seamless transition to my successor,” she continued.

“As I prepare to close this chapter, I do so with tremendous gratitude for my more than 28 years of service, the relationships I have built along the way, and the opportunity to serve the community of Redlands. I look forward to what lies ahead and, most of all, spending more time with my family.”

City Manager Charlie Duggan praised Chief Tolber’s standout leadership over the past three years and her decades of dedicated service to Redlands.

“Chief Tolber has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to this department, its personnel and the entire Redlands community,” Duggan said. “Her exceptional leadership has set the Redlands Police Department on a firm course for continued success, and I wish her the very best in a well-deserved retirement after a stellar career.”

Appointed Chief of Police in 2023, Chief Tolber has led the Redlands Police Department with a strong commitment to public safety and community partnerships. She began her law enforcement career with the department as an intern in 1997 and was sworn in as a police officer in 1998. In recent years, her leadership has emphasized strategic recruitment, organizational wellness, the integration of innovative technology, and culminating her career by breaking ground on the City’s long-awaited new police facility.

Chief Tolber possesses a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Redlands, and she holds a master’s degree in criminology, law, and society from the University of California, Irvine. She also earned a master’s degree in applied criminology from the University of Cambridge and is a graduate of the California POST Command College.

Chief Tolber has served on the International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee and a Uniform Crime Reporting Subcommittee under the FBI CJIS Advisory Board. Additionally, she is a Fellow of the Future Policing Institute, a founding and Emeritus board member of the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing, and an alumna of the National Institute of Justice’s LEADS Scholar program.

An active community leader, Chief Tolber has served on multiple local boards supporting crime prevention, violence intervention and youth outreach. She is also a Redlands Sunrise Rotarian and continues to mentor both men and women in the policing profession.

Under City policy, the position of chief of police is appointed by the city manager. Duggan noted that a thorough process to identify the department’s next leader is underway, focused on sustaining the positive momentum built during Chief Tolber’s tenure. Further details on the selection process and timeline will be shared as they are finalized.