Police officer and horse, group of officers and 4x4 Police vehicle

Command Staff

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Chief R Filice

Chief of Police Roberto Filice

With decades of experience, Chief Filice has served as the Chief of the Salinas Police Department since 2021, following his tenure there as Assistant Chief for four years. During his distinguished tenure, his strategic vision, in alignment with the principles of 21st Century Policing, was centered on crime reduction, fostering new opportunities for officer career development, enhancing organizational efficiency through technological advancements, and a steadfast commitment to refining and cultivating community relationships.

Chief Filice’s academic achievements include the successful completion of the FBI National Academy (Session 255), Senior Management Institute in Policing (SMIP), FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS), Peace Officers Standards and Training Executive Certificate, a Master of Business Administration in Public Administration, and Master of Science degrees in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. Additionally, Chief Filice holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Mountain State University and is currently attending the prestigious Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

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Joe Cotcher

Police Captain Terrence Joseph Cotcher began his law enforcement career with the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department in 2006 as a police recruit. In August 2023, he was promoted to Captain and is assigned to and oversees the Operations Division.

Captain Cotcher graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Political Science. He then became a public school teacher.

In 2007 he became a Police officer, working in patrol and the Special Enforcement Unit and later utilizing his teaching skills as a firearms instructor. In 2015, he was promoted to Sergeant and worked in the Personnel & Training Unit in charge of all department training and hiring of employees. In July of 2018, he was promoted to Lieutenant.

Captain Cotcher resides in Brentwood with his family and is an avid user of the Park District.

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Lieutenant David Phulps

Lieutenant David Phulps began his law enforcement career with the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department in 1999. Promoted to Lieutenant in 2017, he now serves as the Support Services lieutenant, where he oversees the Recruitment and Training, Budget, Fleet Maintenance, building, and other projects.  He is also the Information Services Liaison.

Lieutenant Phulps served four years in the Marine Corps, assigned to aviation units in Arizona and Japan. He graduated Cum Laude from Southern Illinois University with a BS in Management.

During his tenure with the Department, he’s been a Crime Scene Investigator, Field Training Officer, member of the Alameda County Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force, SWAT Team Leader, Detective, and Patrol Sergeant, and he has supervised the Professional Standards Unit.

He is a husband and father to two boys. 

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Giorgio Chevez

Lieutenant Giorgio Chevez began his law enforcement career with the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department in 2008. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2021, he has overseen half of the Patrol Operations Division, the Special Enforcement Unit, and the Air Support Unit.
 
He is currently assigned to Support Services and oversees the Recruitment and Training Unit, Professional Standards Unit, and other administrative groups within the Police Department.
 
Lieutenant Chevez graduated from San Francisco State University, with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He is also a graduate of the 142nd Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Police Academy.
 
He served in many roles throughout his career, including the Police Association President, Field Training Officer, Investigator for a Regional Narcotics Task Force, Sergeant in the Operations Division, and Investigations Unit Sergeant.
 
Lieutenant Chevez resides in Contra Costa County with his family.

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Lieutenant Joseph Scott

Lieutenant Joseph Scott began his law enforcement career with the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department in 2004 as a Public Safety Student Aide and was later hired as a police recruit in 2005. Promoted to Lieutenant in 2023, he oversees half of the Patrol Operations Division, the Field Training Program, the Investigations Unit, and the Department’s partnerships with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). 

Lieutenant Scott graduated from California State University East Bay with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration. He has served in many roles throughout his career, including Field Training Officer, Police Service Canine Handler, SWAT Team Leader, Special Enforcement Unit Sergeant, and Detective Sergeant.

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Patty Gershaneck

Communications, Records, and Property Manager Patty Gershaneck began her career with the East Bay Regional Park District as a Public Safety Communications Dispatcher in 2003. Patty was promoted to her current position where she manages the Communications Center, Records, and Property/Evidence Units. She also works with Park Operations maintaining the District’s radio and cell phone infrastructure and security systems.  She is the Special District Representative for the Technical Advisory Committee of the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority (EBRCSA). 

During her tenure in the Communications Center Patty has served as a Community Service Officer, Crime Scene Technician, Records Supervisor, Dispatch Supervisor, and Communications Training Officer.

 

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