Brentwood Appoints Walter O’Grodnick as 13th Police Chief
Brentwood has appointed Captain Walter O’Grodnick as the city’s 13th police chief, formalizing permanent leadership for the Brentwood Police Department after nearly a year with O’Grodnick serving as interim chief.
The city announced the appointment July 6, 2026. O’Grodnick’s appointment takes effect July 16, giving the department a defined transition date for its top leadership position.
For Brentwood residents, the appointment keeps the department’s leadership with an officer who has already been serving as interim chief. It also sets the next public-facing milestone for the department: an open house scheduled for Aug. 22.
Longtime Brentwood officer
O’Grodnick has more than 32 years of law-enforcement experience, including 28 years with the Brentwood Police Department. He joined the department in 1998.
His service as interim chief began in September 2025. From that point until July 16, 2026, he served in an interim capacity. On the effective date, he will take over as the city’s appointed police chief.
The city identified O’Grodnick as Brentwood’s 13th police chief. The appointment therefore marks both a change in the status of the department’s current leader and a new numbered chapter for the local agency.
Community input preceded appointment
More than 240 people participated in a community survey connected with the police-chief process, according to the city. The participation figure indicates that residents were given an opportunity to weigh in during the selection process.
The city’s announcement provided the number of participants but did not summarize the survey responses or explain how those responses were used in the appointment. It also did not include details about the chief’s salary, contract term or the total number of applicants.
Those details are separate from the central change announced by the city: O’Grodnick will move from interim leadership into the permanent chief’s role on July 16.
Open house scheduled for August
The Brentwood Police Department has scheduled an open house for Aug. 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will provide a public opportunity for residents to engage with the department after the appointment becomes effective.
The open house is the next dated public event identified by the city in connection with the department’s leadership transition. It follows O’Grodnick’s formal start as chief by more than a month.
The sequence gives residents two clear dates: July 16, when O’Grodnick becomes Brentwood’s appointed chief, and Aug. 22, when the department’s open house is scheduled. Together, the dates mark the move from interim leadership to a permanent appointment and the department’s next planned opportunity for community engagement.
Sources
- Media Release: Appointment of Brentwood Chief of Police, City of Brentwood, California
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