The city of Hillsborough announced the hiring of a new police chief.
Melissa “Meme” Colla will serve as the city’s 11th police chief after rising through the ranks, the Hillsborough Police Department said on Thursday.
Chief Nelson Corteway announced his retirement in September after joining the Hillsborough force in 1996.
The new chief will oversee a department of 38 people and an as-yet unsolved case involving an officer being shot in February. The ambush-style shooting took place in the parking lot of the police station, and despite a sketch of the suspect and other leads, no one has been arrested.
The gunshot struck the officer in an area protected by his body armor, then-Capt. Colla said. The officer shot back, but investigators did not know if the suspect was struck with gunfire.
In April, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a reward of $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Colla has expertise in regional cooperation such as mutual aid between police departments and task forces, the department said. She has modernized the department through training models and serves in multiple leadership roles outside of the force, such as being the vice president of the San Mateo County Law Enforcement Training Managers Association and as secretary of the San Mateo County Commanders Group.
Colla has a bachelor’s degree in applied arts in commercial recreation and sports studies and is certified in supervision, management, and advanced law enforcement practices, according to the department.
Corteway has taken a public safety position with the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management.