Clayton Chief McEachin ­leaving for Central Valley post

CLAYTON, CA (Dec. 12, 2024) — After two years of dedicated service, Clayton Police Chief Richard McEachin announced his resignation to be appointed chief for the city of Atwater, effective Dec. 19.

In his new role, McEachin will oversee a Police Department with 31 sworn officers and 13 non-sworn administrative personnel. This transition marks a significant step forward in his law enforcement career, as he returns to the Central Valley, where he resides.

The Clayton City Council, city staff and the community extend their gratitude to McEachin for his service and wish him continued success.

To ensure a smooth transition, the city will engage a reputable executive search firm to assist in the recruitment for both an interim chief and a permanent replacement.

Recognition

In other news, the council recognized students from Mt. Diablo Elementary School and Diablo View Middle School for the “Do The Right Thing” character trait of “respect” at the Nov. 19 meeting. Congratulations to all the awarded students.

The council also recognized and proclaimed the following:

• November as Native American Heritage Month.
• Dutch American Heritage Day on Nov. 13.
• Homeless Awareness Week, Nov. 11-23.

There were no public hearing items. However, we discussed the following Action Items:

• Approved the installation of a bronze plaque in memory of Clayton’s first mayor, Bob Hoyer. We will place the plaque near the flagpole in The Grove Park. The installation date is pending confirmation from the Hoyer family.
• Approved a budget amendment for improvements to the third-floor office space at City Hall, not to exceed $60,000.
• Received presentations from city staff to recommend adding five staff positions. This item received much discussion from the City Council and the public. We referred the item back to staff for further development.

Our next City Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 17 in Hoyer Hall.

This will be my final column after serving as your mayor for 2024. It was an honor and a pleasure to serve the entire Clayton community. Thank you for your support.

As your mayor, I worked hard to maintain Clayton’s small-town charm and character, always striving for an open and transparent local government.

I wish you all happy holidays.

You can reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns at 925-673-7316 or JimD@claytonca.gov.