South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler says goodbye; March retirement date set

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In just two weeks the City of South Lake Tahoe will be saying goodbye to its sixth police chief since becoming incorporated in 1965.

Chief Brian Uhler will be wrapping up a 40-year career in law enforcement when he retires from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) on March 12, 2020. He has been the second-longest serving chief, coming within a couple of months of the City's second police chief, John Crow.

The 58-year-old Uhler started his career in November 1979 as a military police officer during his three years in the Army. He said he'd been a teenager, working in construction in Washington, dealing with cold steel and went to the recruiter's office and asked if he could be sent somewhere warm. Uhler said he didn't want to be a "nowhere job" and walked into that recruiter's office on a Wednesday, and was signed up by Thursday. Not hurting that decision were the five swimming pools at his next two stops, Ft. Sam Houston and Ft. McClellan.

He grew up in several different locations prior to heading into the Army. His dad was a machinist and said, a toolbox has handles for a reason. The Uhlers would pick up and move from time to time, wherever the toolbox took them.

After leaving the Army, Uhler joined the Corpus Christi (Texas) police department as an officer and stayed 25 years, leaving as the commander. Corpus Christi was a town of almost 300,000 at the time with 48 sworn officers.

He was eligible to retire and headed to San Francisco. He may have left the police department in Texas, but he did not leave law enforcement. He spent three years at UC San Francisco as their captain. Then, the mountains called.

On November 7, 2010, Brian Uhler came on board with SLTPD as their chief.

During his tenure, there have been several highlights, Uhler said.

As the economy struggled, Uhler spent time as the City's Director of Public Safety, wearing two hats and lead both the police and the fire departments. Then Jeff Meston was hired and Brian was able to head back to his single hat. While over Fire, Uhler said he saved the City about $600,000 by restructuring the department.

Uhler said he doesn't think the City would ever try the dual-hat position again because of the fire risk facing the community as shown with the Santa Rosa and Paradise fires.

One thing he is extremely proud of is the conclusion of the Richard Swanson cold case. Uhler met with Richard's parents Ron and Sharon where the couple shared stories and photos of their son who was found dead at the Shell gas station at the Y in 1980. Uhler promised he'd do all he could to bring closure and worked with his department, El Dorado District Attorney's Office, the FBi and Department of Justice and prioritized the Swanson investigation with advances in DNA testing. In 2012, Andrew Sanford was arrested for the murder, and in 2015, sent to prison for life. Uhler said he took it as his responsibility to get a conviction.

Another accomplishment is the addition of a security fence around the police department on Johnson Blvd. Parking was a concern as people waited for officers and staff to walk out after work and attempt to go to their cars.

Uhler and former City Manager Tony O'Rourke worked with finances and Proposition 172 to get the department with an improved fleet that is replaced when needed and the process is transparent and effective.

Another area is his staff.

"I am proud of the relationship with employees," said Uhler of the team at the police department. He said it wasn't easy at the beginning and change had to come about, but he enjoys that good relationship with both paid and sworn-in staff.

Uhler hasn't always had an easy time with controversial topics facing the community. There have been issues of vacation home rentals (VHRs), cannabis and SnowGlobe. He says his job is to keep people and neighborhoods safe.

"I've worked hard to mitigate problems in neighborhoods," said Uhler of the VHR issues. He is still a proponent of renters being handed a key face-to-face and not through a dropbox situation.

"I use a balanced approach to all," he added.

Another balancing act is one the police department walks with homelessness. He said it is a polarizing and a difficult situation in the community. Uhler said their issues range from homeless people bothering businesses to helping those seeking services at the Warm Room. SLTPD has added a liaison officer to assist with those situations.

"Ten years ago we didn't have a homeless problem as we had winter," said Uhler. Now, about 50 percent of calls to their dispatch center are homeless related, he said. He said being compassionate and responsive to all helps those on both sides of the issue.

There are many more things Uhler and been involved in during his ten years in South Lake Tahoe.

There have been challenges as well as successes. Uhler has been with five different city managers in the last 24 months.

What is up next for the Chief?

It isn't retirement, yet.

Uhler starts a new job on Monday, March 16 with a private company that specializes in security systems for local, state and federal government, including schools. He will use his expertise with ICU Technologies, Inc.

"I can speak the right language to the customers," he said.

The new job is a California-based company that lets him live at Lake Tahoe until training is over, then he'll move to the Bay Area. His wife Estella is the counseling psychology program coordinator at the University of San Francisco and they'll be based near her job as well as his.

The new job may allow Brian to fly his Berkut airplane more often as he'll be traveling to clients' locations. He had been putting in about 30,000 to 40,000 miles a year so he looks to increase that number.

Also on the horizon for Uhler is the role of being a grandfather for the first time. His daughter Kristen, who lives in Minneapolis, will soon be having a son.

"Chief Uhler has been an integral part of the City for years," said the City of South Lake Tahoe Communication Manager Chris Fiore. He has done so much for our police department and citizens, and help them grow. Losing him will be tough, but City Council is certainly focused on making sure another person of his caliber is in that job."