San Diego Police Chief to Resign, Join United Way

Jerry Sanders, the soft-spoken street cop who has led the Police Department here for 5 1/2 years, winning praise for expanding community-oriented policing, announced Tuesday that he is resigning as chief to head the United Way of San Diego County.

Sanders, 48, a San Diego officer for 26 years, said it was time for new leadership at the department, which has 2,058 officers. He said he is taking a job that will allow him to spend more time with his wife, Rana Sampson, who is director of public safety at the University of San Diego, and his two daughters.

Mayor Susan Golding said Sanders “has achieved the near impossible, actually having the full support of the community, the Police Department, the mayor and the council.” She said a search firm will be hired to find a new chief.

As chief, Sanders was paid $128,000 a year. At United Way, he was given a three-year contract as president and chief executive that starts at $165,000 annually.