Susanville’s Interim Police chief, Michael Bengoa-Bollinger, has become the city’s new Public Safety Chief. Bollinger stepped into the role as the temporary Chief of Police following Ryan Cochran’s retirement in November.
The city, upon losing both its fire and police chief, made the unanimous decision to combine the administrative duties of these positions into an overall Public Safety chief.
In the city’s appointment announcement, City Manager Dan Newton detailed Bollinger’s accolades qualifying him for the role. As required for the position, Bollinger holds a master’s degree in Leadership and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, in conjunction with serving as a volunteer firefighter at the Susanville Fire Department, as well as firefighting roles with CalFire and the Bureau of Land Management. He has also served as a Deputy Sheriff in both Butte and Lassen County and as a Parole/Probation Agent for the State of Wyoming Department of Corrections. In addition, he has held positions as a Police Sergeant in the towns of Afton, Wyoming, and Herlong.
Bollinger has been with the city since 1989beginning his career as a reserve police officer before becoming a full-time officer in 2012 and promoted to captain in 2021.
The community showered Public Safety Chief Bollinger with congratulations upon the announcement.
