CLEARLAKE, Calif. — On Monday afternoon, as Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White prepared to leave for the next stop in what already has been an accomplished career, he received praise and shows of affection from officials, colleagues and community members — and a key to the city.

White is the first person in Clearlake’s 42 years as a city to receive such an honor, said City Manager Alan Flora during a heartfelt going away reception for White at City Hall.

Flora explained the key is part of a tradition that goes back to medieval times, when walled city gates were guarded during the day and locked at night.

“The key symbolizes the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will, and is meant to confer trust and honor, to a friend of city residents,” Flora said.

White, 38, has been police chief since July 2018. He announced at the start of November that he had accepted the police chief’s job in the city of Martinez. His first day is Jan. 3.

While White’s departure is a blow to the city, there is hope for the future. He was lauded for raising the bar for leadership, for building up a stronger, better department that will move forward and — White hopes — will do even better in the days ahead.

Flora said it’s White’s leadership example that created the dramatic change for the city.

In his four and a half years with the city, “every moment you were completely sold out for improving the city,” said Flora.

White has been key to managing the city’s response to wildland fires, the COVID-19 pandemic and the work of improving the city’s image, its prospects and its effective service of its residents.

He’s also forged key relationships with groups like the NAACP, whose members, including Rick Mayo, the local chapter’s president and founder, were on hand to honor him and thank him for his service, presenting him with a plaque.

Before reading a proclamation commending White from the Board of Supervisors, District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, who was still on the Clearlake City Council when White was hired, lauded him for how he approached his work.

“You have treated every day as day one, where on day one we always show our best,” Sabatier said, noting White’s enthusiasm for constant improvement has never tapered off.

Sabatier said White has helped raise the bar on what leadership is in Lake County, which will be a lasting impact of his work. “I think we’ve all been changed and affected and inspired by his leadership role that he’s taken in our community,” said Sabatier, adding that it impacted the entire county.

“While he may be leaving, we now have a new standard that we need to step up to, all of us, and I can’t thank you enough for doing that,” Sabatier said.

City Attorney Ryan Jones said White has the ability to fill any role and do it well — joking that he could even be city attorney if he wanted.

During the Monday reception, White received not just honors from his colleagues in the city, led by Flora, but from other leaders and community members.

In addition to Mayo, Jones and Sabatier, those coming forward to honor White on Monday included Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin, who is retiring at month’s end; Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen; Lake County Fire Protection Chief Willie Sapeta; and members of the Clearlake City Council.

Congressman Mike Thompson also sent a resolution honoring White that he had read into the Congressional Record.

Elizabeth Kelly, Clearlake Police’s chaplain, highlighted the difference between where the city is now and when he came here, and how that White leads by example. She described coming upon him directing traffic one day, and how that he wouldn’t expect anyone to do what he wouldn’t do himself.

On Monday, during his going away reception at Clearlake City Hall, White formally handed the baton to the city’s new interim chief, Tim Hobbs.

Hobbs, 41, has been with the Clearlake Police Department for 20 years — his entire career — and most recently at the rank of lieutenant. Flora appointed him acting chief effective on Monday.

Flora said the city has watched Hobbs grow and develop as a leader. “I have every confidence that you are ready to step in as acting chief and lead the department during this transition.”

White administered the oath to Hobbs, then took off his badge and gave it to Hobbs’ fiancee, who came forward to pin it on Hobbs’ uniform.



An eventful tenure

White first arrived in Lake County as the Mendocino Complex had triggered evacuations of thousands of residents from Kelseyville to the Northshore.

He spent his first days in Lake County helping the city of Lakeport, which had been evacuated in its entirety due to the monster complex, one of the biggest fires in California history. Rasmussen said White was his partner for two days during that incident, before he even got the chance to work at his own department.

Later, he would be at the core of the city’s response to the August 2021 Cache fire, which burned dozens of homes.

He also oversaw the building of a new animal shelter as the city turned a chapter in offering expanded animal control services, hiring North Bay Animal Services to handle that function. Even so, White has remained hands-on, even fostering dogs in his home.

His tenure has been marked both by collaboration and innovation. White has shown himself to have a wide variety of abilities, helping the city upgrade its IT infrastructure and also acting temporarily as the city finance officer.

Flora recalled first meeting White in the parking lot at the city’s Tractor Supply store with then-City Manager Greg Folsom.

It was an odd meeting, Flora said, as at that point Folsom was considering taking the city manager job in the city of Suisun City — which he later did — and White, working for the Suisun Police Department, was interested in the Clearlake chief’s job. It amounted to what Flora called a “personnel trade.”

He said Folsom stayed around for about eight months more before leaving, and Flora was grateful that White “decided to take the big risk on Clearlake.”

Flora joked that hiring White was the second best thing Folsom did as city manager — next to hiring Flora himself.

White has, during his time in Lake County, created deep connections with his fellow city employees and other local leaders. The reception proved emotional for Flora and White himself as they recounted their time working together and the lasting friendship that resulted.

Flora said he’s had the opportunity to work with many impressive people over the years, and he couldn’t be more proud of the city of Clearlake’s team.

He told White, “I place you in a group of less than a handful of people I have worked with that are truly exceptional.”

He added, “Many people have a talent and habit of attention to detail, but only a couple other people I know also possess a clear grasp of the big picture.”

Flora said White, when needed, has refused to take no for an answer, and places no limit on solving complicated problems.

He said he trusted White’s judgment 100%, and believes in his integrity. Flora said White has also been willing to hold him accountable when needed. He’s a valued leader and mentor, not just to the entire police department, but also the entire city organization.

The city will feel White’s departure deeply as an organization, and Flora said he will feel it personally, calling White his confidant. He said he’ll miss throwing around ideas, discussing ideas and sharing news stories about crazier things than happen in Clearlake.

Beyond his professional accolades, Flora said White is “one of the best people I know.” He and his wife, Charlotte, have opened their home to 18 foster children, which Flora called “nothing short of remarkable.”

With all of those accomplishments, Flora decided it was a key to the city that would best symbolize White’s impact on Clearlake.



Advice for the future

Before Hobbs’ swearing-in, when it came to White’s turn to talk about his time in Clearlake, as Flora predicted he would, White turned the subject toward his staff, saying the accomplishments of his tenure required a team effort.

“We’ve tried to make this a better and safer place,” said White, noting there is still more to do.

White said he may be most proud of the fact that the police department’s staff are now proud of where they worked, which wasn’t what they told him when he did one-on-one interviews when he arrived in Clearlake.

Based on his knowledge of the department, he said it’s never been more prepared to be successful in the future than it is now.

“My challenge for the department is not to continue doing what we were doing, but to take it to that next level,” White said. “And I know that they will. Things will be different. Being different is OK. That’s how the department evolves. But I know you guys are going to make it better.”

The community will accept nothing less, and it shouldn’t, he said.

He praised Hobbs, who he said is ready to do the job, and said he couldn’t be more excited for him.

White told Hobbs that taking on the job of police chief is the pinnacle of his career. “But I would also tell you that it’s at this moment, that your whole career becomes about everybody out there” — at which point White gestured with both hands toward the audience — “and not about you.”

He urged Hobbs to support the people in his department. White also told Hobbs to be mindful of his family, in realization of the job’s demands, and to work closely with the city manager.

White offered his own praise for Flora, saying his care for the city is unrelenting, and he thanked everyone for believing in the department.

He also offered a final token to Flora as the gathering drew to a close.

White said he often has kept his uniforms from previous jobs.

He then pulled a patch out of his pocket, which he had cut from one of his Clearlake Police uniforms.

“This patch has been through a lot,” he said, noting it has been in some dirty spots and scuffles, but that it was battle worn and tested.

Both men were emotional as White handed that patch to Flora and they embraced.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.