Benicia Police Chief Mike Greene has announced his retirement after 30 years in law enforcement.

“I am leaving this profession with pride, humility and the deepest gratitude,” said Greene Aug. 24 on social media.

Greene’s last day will be Jan. 20, he said, which Mayor Steve Young said might give the city enough time to name his replacement. 

“The city manager has committed to an open and public process, and we will likely be recruiting citizens to serve on our panel to help interview candidates,” said Young on Aug. 26. 

Young said that Greene did a “great job” as chief. 

“This is evidenced by the low crime rates in Benicia, as well as his successful efforts to strengthen and diversify the force,” said the mayor. 

Greene was made chief in 2021 after being with the department for three decades. 

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.