Command Staff

Abdul D. Pridgen is the Chief of the San Leandro Police Department. He was appointed in 2021 to serve alongside a dedicated group of community guardians in one of the most diverse cities in the country. He is proud to have been born and raised in The Bronx, NY. The rich cultural diversity and abundant opportunities he experienced have greatly influenced the person he has become. Chief Pridgen is an open, honest, authentic, and approachable leader who understands citizens' vital role in co-producing community safety. Throughout his career, he has put systems in place to increase the public's confidence in the police, reduce crime, and assure that policing for safety, not incarceration, is each officer's focus. Chief Pridgen recognizes every employee's value to the agency and heavily invests in their training, resources, and professional development.

"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside the members of the San Leandro Police Department as we endeavor to exceed expectations. It will take us all working together and amplifying all voices. Based on a remarkable alignment of desired outcomes and working in partnership, I am confident we will prosper. I know we have the ability, the compassion, and the conviction to make San Leandro a shining example of what present-day policing must be."

Experience Prior to Law Enforcement

Prior to being appointed San Leandro Police Chief, he led the Seaside Police Department. In Seaside, he made procedural justice, transparency, and winning the community's trust department priorities. Before serving Seaside, Chief Pridgen honorably retired from the Fort Worth Police Department after almost twenty-six years of loyal service. He promoted through the ranks and was appointed to second-in-command in 2009-ultimately becoming the first and only Black Assistant Chief. He was known for his effectiveness at employing evidence to drive organizational change and his principled approach, promoting ethical policing and fostering a culture of answerability.

Before entering law enforcement, Chief Pridgen was a Sailor in the armed forces, serving in Desert Storm. He was honorably discharged after his six-year active-duty commitment and retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Chief Petty Officer.

Education

Chief Pridgen holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute, FBI National Academy, FBI National Executive Institute, and Harvard Kennedy School, Senior Executives in State and Local Government-he went on to receive an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard. Chief Pridgen is passionate about volunteering to improve community outcomes at the national, state, and local level. He is a Senior Advisor for Measures for Justice, a member of the Executive Committee for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County, President of the California Police Chiefs Association, President of the Institute for Transparent and Accountable Policing, Past President of the Monterey County Chief Law Enforcement Officers Association, Past President of the Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team, and Past Chair of the Blue Ribbon Task Force for the Reduction of Youth Violence.

Personal Life

Chief Pridgen is a proud husband and father. He has always had a servant's heart and, from an early age, served all comers on the streets of The Bronx who wanted an electric boogie showdown. Though today he's put his dancing shoes aside, in what little spare time he has, Chief Pridgen enjoys spending quality time with his family, volunteering, exercising, golfing, and playing basketball.

Assistant Chief Luis Torres began his law enforcement career in 1992 as a Police Explorer in his hometown of Salinas, CA. After graduating from high school, he attended San Jose State University where he was a Police Cadet. While attending San Jose State, he happened to come across a recruiting table for the San Leandro Police Department. He applied and was ultimately hired by the San Leandro Police Department on October 15, 1998.

Assignments & Roles Within the Department

He has worked a variety of assignments including patrol, hostage negotiations, crime scene technician, school resource officer, sexual assault/juvenile crime detective, background investigator, and personnel and training.

Assistant Chief Torres has served as the commander overseeing the K-9 Program, Hostage Negotiations Team, Color Guard, Professional Standards and Training Unit, and Patrol Division.

He was promoted to Assistant Police Chief in March 2022.

Education

Assistant Chief Torres' education consists of an Associate's Degree from Evergreen Valley College, a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University, and a Master's of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego. He has received leadership training from the POST Supervisory Leadership Institute, the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police, and the California Police Chief's Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker.

Board / Committee Involvement

Assistant Chief Torres previously served as the Northern California Associate Member Representative on the California Police Chief's Association Board of Directors and is currently the Co-Chair on the training committee.  

Captain Ali Khan began his career with the San Leandro Police Department as a Public Safety Dispatcher in 2000. After working in our communications center, he decided to further advance his career in law enforcement and was hired as a Police Officer. Captain Khan promoted to Police Sergeant in 2014, Police Lieutenant in 2019, and most recently promoted to Captain in February 2022. 

Department Roles

Ali has worked in several divisions within the Department, including Patrol, Professional Standards, and Criminal Investigations. He has also worked in various assignments, including Special Victims Detective, Evidence Response Team, Hostage Negotiations, Peer Support Team, Explorer Advisor, and Volunteer Advisor.

Ali currently oversees the Bureau of Operations and Services.  He is also the Police Department's Press Information Officer.

Education

Ali holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management. He also graduated from Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker School of Management at Claremont University. Captain Khan recently graduated in May 2022 with his masters in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego.