CITY OF DUBLIN POLICE CHIEF GARRETT HOLMES ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Dublin Police Chief Garrett Holmes has announced that he will retire from his post, effective March 17, 2023.   Chief Holmes, who is a Commander with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, began his role as Dublin Police Chief on December 15, 2017.  This was his third stint with Dublin Police Services.

“It has been an honor to serve the community of Dublin for over 18 years, and the last five as the Chief of Police,” said Chief Holmes. “Over the past two decades, the City has grown rapidly, but it still has a hometown feel. I have been extremely fortunate to work with the many dedicated women and men of Dublin Police Services, and I am grateful for the wonderful support that our community members have shown us through the years. Together, we have made the City a vibrant and safe place to live and work.”

Commander Holmes has nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement.  A lifelong resident of Alameda County, he started his career in 1993 with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve Deputy. He worked for several years at the North County Jail and Santa Rita Jail before becoming a Deputy at the City of Dublin.  He served Dublin until 2009 in numerous capacities including patrol, crime prevention, investigations, and as a field training officer and supervisor; patrol supervisor; and administration sergeant.  During that period of service to the Dublin community, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant.  In 2009, he left Dublin and served in several roles with the Sheriff’s Office, most notably as Captain and Commanding Officer of Oakland International Airport.  He returned to Dublin as a Captain in 2015 to oversee Operations and Administration of the department, serving as second-in-command under then-Commander Dennis Houghtelling. In early 2017, he was promoted to Commander and took over the Countywide Services Division.  He returned to lead Dublin Police Services in December 2017.

“We thank Chief Holmes for his years of service and leadership to the City of Dublin,” said Mayor Melissa Hernandez. “We look forward to continuing his legacy of community policing and making Dublin a safe place to live and work.”

During his five-plus years as Chief of Dublin Police, Commander Holmes led Dublin Police through the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the unrest stemming from the death of George Floyd.  During the pandemic, he worked to provide greater transparency of Dublin Police Services, holding regular online meetings with the community, and creating the first Dublin Police Annual Report. He was regularly out in the community at City of Dublin activities, including the Dublin Farmers’ Market, the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, and at “Coffee with the Chief” events.

“Chief Holmes’ retirement is personally and professionally bittersweet,” said Dublin City Manager Linda Smith. “I have had the opportunity to work closely with him these last eight years and to have had a front row seat, watching him take community policing to the next level.  He’s a man of great integrity, is extremely caring, and has always wanted the best for the City.  He is deserving of all wonderful comments to come, and he will be dearly missed.”

Chief Holmes, who grew up in nearby Pleasanton, has called the Tri-Valley “home” for over 45 years.   He is married to wife Angela Ramirez Holmes and has two grown daughters and a son.  Following his retirement, he and his family are looking to spend more time together traveling to visit the country’s national parks and Major League Baseball stadiums.      

An announcement regarding Chief Holmes’ replacement will be forthcoming.