City of Santa Rosa, CA, CivicReady Public Safety Alerts & Notifications
SRPD News Release: Chief of Police John Cregan Receives Prestigious Allen W. Sill Founders Award
Chief of Police John Cregan Receives Prestigious Allen W. Sill Founders Award
We are thrilled to announce that Chief of Police John Cregan has been honored with statewide recognition for his visionary contributions to the City of Santa Rosa. At the annual training symposium in San Diego, the California Police Chiefs Association presented Chief Cregan with the prestigious Allen W. Sill Founders Award. This award was established to honor the visionary leadership and accomplishments of Chief Allen Sill (West Covina PD) and the original founders of the California Police Chiefs Association in 1966. The Allen W. Sill Founders Award is a recognition given to a police chief who is truly making a significant impact in our state. Chief Cregan’s dedication to organizational wellness resources for law enforcement professionals and his strong support for the expansion of civilian mental health crisis response teams across the state are commendable. Additionally, Chief Cregan is actively involved in statewide initiatives aimed at reducing violence associated with privately manufactured firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns.”Since December of 2023, Chief Cregan has been serving on the Board of Directors of the California Police Chiefs Association and this week he was elected to the executive board. This board is comprised of dedicated police chiefs who are leading the way for other law enforcement leaders across the State of California.
Chief Cregan, a CPCA regional representative for police chiefs across Sonoma County, Marin County, Napa County, Mendocino County, and Lake County, is dedicated to fostering communication and sharing best practices in law enforcement across the region. These Northern California leaders are collaborating to enhance police services and make improvements in our law enforcement community.
Chief Cregan chairs the California Police Chiefs Association’s Organizational Wellness and Resiliency sub-committee, where he passionately advocates for building a support system for the well-being of police officers and civilian staff members in law enforcement. Since 2018, he has also served on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and played a pivotal role in establishing the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team. Chief Cregan firmly believes in providing robust mental health crisis support to everyone in our community.
Expressing his gratitude, Chief Cregan said he was “honored and humbled” to receive the award from his peers, noting that his involvement with the California Police Chiefs Association has helped shape his leadership and ability to serve the Santa Rosa community. He emphasized the importance of trauma‑informed care and wellness resources, stating that prioritizing the well‑being of public safety professionals leads to improved outcomes and stronger first responders. When discussing mental health resources, Chief Cregan highlighted the effectiveness of mental health crisis response teams and said the inRESPONSE program has become a statewide model that he is proud to help other communities replicate.
Chief Cregan also addressed firearm violence, expressing confidence that California can reduce gun‑related violence by addressing root causes and limiting access to ghost guns, adding that the Santa Rosa Police Department is taking a leadership role in confronting this growing challenge statewide.
The Santa Rosa Police Department congratulates Chief Cregan on this exceptional honor and recognizes his continued commitment to advancing professional excellence, officer wellness, and innovative public safety strategies. This statewide recognition reflects Chief Cregan’s leadership within SRPD and his dedication to strengthening law enforcement practices through collaboration, advocacy, and forward‑thinking initiatives. We are proud of Chief Cregan’s service and leadership as he continues to represent the Santa Rosa Police Department at the state level.
Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.
