Promotions for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - New South Lake Tahoe Police Chief David Stevenson was sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, receiving his official badge from his wife Jennifer in front of his mother and sister. The virtual ceremony had just a few attendees due to COVID-19 restrictions, but many were able to log onto their phones and computers and watch the 25-year veteran of the force, and South Tahoe High graduate, move into the top spot in the police department.

"I am really happy and humbled to be given this opportunity," said the new chief. "We have a great team and I'm ready to move forward."

Stevenson's father passed away in 1981 after moving his family to South Lake Tahoe in February of 1977 where he had accepted the job as a police officer in the same department his son now leads.

"My mom and my sister made me into the man I am today," Stevenson said after the ceremony.

In the week since Stevenson's promotion was announced he'd already met with local Black Lives Matter advocate Kevin Brunner and stopped by a planned protest at Lakeview Commons.

Read more of Stevenson's hiring HERE.

Chief Stevenson outlined two goals to tackle right away: 1) Connecting with the community, continuing to connect with the community, and reestablishing relationships, and keep them moving them forward; and 2) Establishing an alternative service model for those experiencing homelessness and mental health issues in the community.

As his first official act in the new position, Stevenson promoted Travis Cabral to the position of lieutenant and Scott Crivelli to sergeant.

Cabral was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe and, like Stevenson, a graduate of South Tahoe High School. He and his wife Kenna, also a life-long resident, have four children ages 3-10.

The community-oriented Cabral said he always had a passion to serve the community after his Olympic and ski career drew to a close. Travis was the US Champion mogul skier and the youngest to become World Cup moguls champ before heading to the 2006 Olympics. He said he was supported by the community when skiing and as a police officer, he said its his turn to repay that through his new position.

"I'm excited for the change," said Cabral. He said he looks forward to being out in the community and working together on making South Lake Tahoe a better place though community protection and community service, the two sides of his job.

When asked what he'd like to accomplish in his first 90 days, Cabral said this:

1) Get very clear and simple goals on ways to better serve the community,
2) Work on social interactions both digitally in social media and in more contacts in the community,
3) Officer wellness - he said officers tend to forget about themselves so need to make sure they are mentally and physically well,
4) Focus on what we can do that going to make the department better.

"We can't compare what is happening nationally to what happens here," said Cabral, though it can't be overlooked.

He said if officers are nice and compassionate the rest of their job is easier. He said they need to serve everyone in the community with the same amount of respect.

"We deal with a lot of difficult situations," Cabral said. "We deal often with good people who are having a bad day."

He is working on a plan that gets officers out of their vehicles more and into the community to connect with business owners and others.

The other promotion was Scott Crivelli who took a day off from his honeymoon to get sworn in as sergeant. He was married on Friday to Cabral's sister-in-law Becca. Scott grew up in Lodi, California and moved to South Lake Tahoe to join the police department in 2009. Since then he has been on the SLTPD SWAT team, a field training officer, a K9 officer, on patrol and, most recently, a detective.