Steve Gesell Bio Mr. Gesell completed a distinguished 20-year career with the Scottsdale (AZ) Police Department rising to the rank of division commander responsible for 100 sworn and civilian employees. He has a diverse professional background in policing that includes positions such as patrol officer, bicycle patrol officer, undercover narcotics detective, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration task force agent, internal affairs investigator, basic training sergeant, and detective sergeant. His mid and upper management positions include service as a patrol watch commander, oversight of a section comprised of specialty patrol-based units, command over a multi-agency section comprised of covert units that primarily focused on drug enforcement and organized crime investigations leveraging key partnerships with the DEA, FBI and IRS, SWAT team commander, and finally division commander with oversight over all specialty patrol-based units as well as Detention. In late 2009, Mr. Gesell was selected as a commander for the Atascadero Police Department following a national recruitment. Mr. Gesell was responsible for guiding staff members through the strategic planning process, ultimately resulting in the construction of a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan. Additionally, Mr. Gesell served as the interim Atascadero police chief throughout the majority of 2011 and is credited for playing a significant role in the national recruitment for a permanent police chief. Mr. Gesell was selected as San Luis Obispo’s Chief of Police following a national recruitment in January of 2012. His appointment fulfilled an eight-year personal objective to return to his hometown as chief of police. Mr. Gesell holds an undergraduate degree in Justice Studies with a minor in psychology from Arizona State University as well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. He is also a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command in addition to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Unit Commanders Academy. Teaching has been a passion throughout his career. He has taught numerous courses at Arizona’s largest police academy, served as an adjunct community college instructor, and most recently served as an adjunct instructor for Northwestern University teaching interpersonal and organizational communication to police managers around the country. Mr. Gesell was raised primarily in San Luis Obispo and graduated from San Luis Obispo High School. Mr. Gesell’s father, Laurence Gesell, once served as the San Luis Obispo County Airport manager and still owns a home within SLO County. Mr. Gesell and his wife Nesa have three children; Lauren, and twins Lindsey and Nathan.