1976 - 2000

Chief of Police Gerald Leroy McKinsey 1976 – 1992

Modesto Chief of Police Gerald L. McKinsey served 37 distinguished years in local law enforcement.

Born May 29, 1927 in Oklahoma, Chief Gerald McKinsey was a product of the local public school system in central California. He graduated from Ceres High School and Modesto Junior College.

While working on his dairy ranch in 1954, he heard a radio ad that the Stanislaus County Sheriff's office was accepting applications for deputy sheriff. He applied for a position and in January 1955, he became a deputy sheriff for Stanislaus County. In 1958, he was promoted to sergeant and served in the patrol and administrative divisions of the sheriff's department. As the department's first Administrative Sergeant, he initiated the sheriff's air squadron and the county jail's work furlough program.

In 1963, Gerald McKinsey joined the Modesto City Police Department as the captain of the patrol division. In 1969, he transferred to the administrative division of the department. In 1975, he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police, and in 1976, he was made Modesto Chief of Police where he served for 16 years.

Under his watch, Chief McKinsey initiated a number of important programs in the Modesto Police Department. These include the Special Investigation Detail; Community Service Officers; Crime Prevention Unit/Neighborhood Watch; Community and Problem-Oriented Policing; Drug Abuse Resistance Education [D.A.R.E.]; Gang Intervention Education; School Police Officers; K-9 Unit; Equestrian Unit; Special Emergency Reaction Team [SERT/SWAT]; Crime Analysis Unit; Gang Violence Suppression Unit; Tactical Police/Street Gangs Unit; Pawn Shop Detail; Identification Unit.

Chief McKinsey was a leader in local law enforcement groups including the Regional Justice Training Committee where he has served as Chair; the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency where he served as the Operations Manager; and the Stanislaus County Chiefs', Sheriff's and District Attorney's Association where he is a past president.

Chief Gerald McKinsey always displayed the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and dedication both to his department and the community it serves. Under his direction, the Modesto Police Department accomplished a major transition from a small city police department to a law enforcement agency serving the safety needs of the 18th largest city in the State of California. After his retirement he later served on the Modesto City Council.

The new police department building dedicated in July 25, 2000 is named the Gerald L. McKinsey Complex.

Chief McKinsey died July 4, 1996 in Modesto, Stanislaus County and is at rest at Burwood Cemetery, Escalon, San Joaquin County.

Chief of Police Paul Jefferson 1992 – 1999

Former Los Angeles Police Department Captain took over the reins of a growing department August 17, 1992.

We more fully embraced the concept of Community-Based Policing and by mid-1994 had opened four area offices to serve the community. By mid-1995, the population of Modesto was estimated at 180,000 people and there were 301 total personnel including 213 sworn and 88 nonsworn.

The Department was rapidly out-growing its space and new temporary office trailers were brought in to alleviate the space issue. Plans were started for a new police facility to house the expanding department.

Chief Jefferson retired August 17, 1999.

Interim Chiefs Floyd Sanderson and Donald Burnett managed the Department until the appointment of the next permanent Chief.

Timeline 1977 - 2000

1977

Sears and Penney’s flee downtown to relocate in the new regional shopping center, Vintage Faire, located near Highway 99 in North Modesto. The indoor mall opens in March.
George Lucas’ Star Wars has a gala opening at the Briggsmore Theatre. The theatre installs a new Dolby sound system for the occasion.

1980

Modesto population is 106,963.

1983

The McHenry Mansion is opened to the public.
Professional opera star Erik “Buck” Townsend establishes Townsend Opera Company in his hometown.
George Lucas appears on the cover of Time magazine on May 23rd for an article about Return of the Jedi. The Star Wars universe has been featured on several Time covers.

1984

As talk of refurbishing begins, a fire destroys the 63-year-old shuttered Strand Theatre.

1988

Modesto Center Plaza, a downtown convention hall, opens on March 3rd with a gala, “Bob Hope In Person.”

1990

Modesto population is 164,730.

1992

Modesto’s fourth high school opens. It is named after former mayor Peter Johansen.

1993

Julio Gallo, innovative winemaker and co-founder of E.&J. Gallo Winery, dies in a jeep accident.

1994

The Hotel Covell is placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

1998

The Hotel Hughson, Hotel Covell and Covell Theatre, long abandoned, are demolished to make room for Tenth Street Place, a building housing a new city hall and county administration offices.

1999

The 18-screen Brenden Theatre complex opens on the location of the former Montgomery Ward Department Store and Strand Theatre.
Modesto gains national notoriety because of the Sund-Carrington murder case, as news reporters descend on the town to cover the “Yosemite Murders.”

2000

Modesto population is 188,856.

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