Police Chief Gets Award From Chabot

San Leandro Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli and her Hayward counterpart, Chief Diane Urban, will become the first recipients of a Defense of Liberty Award that the Chabot College Administration of Justice Program plans to make an annual event.

Dr. Susan Sperling, President of Chabot College, called the two female chiefs "trailblazers in their respective careers" and role models for men and women law enforcement trainees.

San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy and City Manager Chris Zapata joined in praising Spagnoli's leadership of the police department.

"I am honored by the selection," Spagnoli said.

The chief started her law enforcement career as a police explorer in the City of San Carlos.

She was hired as a police officer by San Carlos in 1990 and she was promoted through the ranks to commander.

In 2007, she was hired as the Chief of Police in Benicia. She became the Chief of Police for Leandro in 2011.

Spagnoli currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Committee for the California Peace Officer Standards and Training and as the President of the California Peace Officer Association.

She holds a Masters degree in Public Administration and a Bachelors degree in Human Services Management. 

Among other supplemental training, she has attended the FBI National Academy and POST Command College and has graduated from the Naval Post Graduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

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