The San Leandro Police Department recently announced the death of its retired longtime police chief, Robert J.P. Maginnis.
“I am grief-stricken by the sudden loss of our sage, leader, and embodiment of professionalism, Retired San Leandro Police Chief Bob Maginnis,” San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen said in a statement.
“Chief Maginnis was loved and respected by all,” Pridgen added. “Words are insufficient to adequately convey the impact he has had on our Department, City, and County.”
Pridgen expressed his condolences to Maginnis’s family.
San Leandro officials on March 23 named the police administration building after Maginnis. He served in the Police Department for 32 years from 1967 to 1999, according to police.
He started with San Leandro police as a reserve officer and in 1986 became chief after graduating from the FBI national Academy.
In 1988, Maginnis was recruited to help examine the future of DNA and its impact on U.S. and California law.
Following his retirement from the Police Department, he was appointed as assistant sheriff for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
Some of Maginnis’s other notable accomplishments include serving as the executive director of the Alameda County Chief of Police and Sheriffs Association, serving on the board of directors of the San Leandro Employee Credit Union and serving on the board of the chamber of commerce.
Maginnis is survived by his wife Arleen Maginnis, his daughter Anne Fox, his son John Maginnis, daughter-in-law Jenny Maginnis, and grandchildren Joe and Michael Fox and Jackie and Max Maginnis.