There’s a new sheriff in town – make that chief – and his name is Anthony (Tony) Rossi; however, he’s not new to law enforcement or the Orinda Police Department (OPD).
“I was the detective sergeant for Orinda PD from January 2023 until my promotion in May of 2024 to facility commander of the Martinez Detention Facility,” said Rossi, whose first day at OPD was Sept. 9.
Born in Walnut Creek, Rossi grew up in Antioch, Pleasant Hill and Martinez, where he currently resides with his wife –“his rock” – and children, who “love that dad is a cop and think it’s ‘cool’ I’m chief now.”
Rossi said former Chief Ryan Sullivan recruited him to OPD to bring a proactive and community-based approach to policing.
“I hit the ground running, improving our overall performance and effectiveness in providing services to the citizens and creating a better bond,” he said. “Upon leaving for promotion, I felt I had not finished what I had started in Orinda. When the opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance to come back to this unique and welcoming community to further build upon the success myself and Chief Sullivan created.”
Chief Rossi feels Orinda is great and has no need for change, and while Moraga Way “keeps our community feeling like a small town,” he does see the benefits of widening it “to allow better flow in the mornings and afternoons for traffic.”
Rossi said he’d like to implement more “coffee with the cops” meet-ups, as well as explore a citizen’s academy to help build a stronger bond, where citizens are taught by law enforcement about law enforcement.
A graduate of College Park High School in 1997, he took courses at Solano Community College, Los Medanos College and Diablo Valley College.
“No degree yet, but a work-in-progress,” said Rossi.
His law enforcement career, however, tells a more comprehensive story.
“I completed the academy in 2006, worked at the Martinez Detention Facility until late 2010, when I transferred to patrol. I worked at all of the station houses for the Sheriff’s Office until being selected for the Sheriff’s Office Street Team (J-Team) in 2013,” said Rossi. “This high-level, proactive unit patrols the county and cities with a focus on high crime reduction.”
In 2015 he was hired as a detective for the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, at the time called Special Investigative Unit (SIU).
“I worked in undercover positions and high-profile crimes within the county. I was deputized as a U.S. Marshall and a member of an FBI task force,” he added.
Rossi was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2020, where he worked in patrol and custody and then came to Orinda PD.
“Until recently, I was a proud member of the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team from 2011, where I finished as the overall sergeant of the team,” he said. “I am an instructor for our academy and in service training in areas of Firearms, Less Lethal, Patrol Tactics, Active Shooter, Use of Force and Narcotics. I have too many stories during that time that could fill a book, so these are just the highlights.”
With a compassionate heart for those he serves, Rossi talks about what that’s like.
“Caring for victims is always very tough for all of us at Orinda PD,” he said. “We are very empathetic to their feelings, and we take it as a personal mission to help resolve the problem within the scope of our abilities. The joy is coming to work, talking to people, playing tetherball at recess at any one of our amazing elementary schools or walking into our local businesses to purchase items – as a way of showing our commitment to our community.”
When he’s not working or spending time with family, he enjoys lifting weights, an occasional video game, anything football-related and hunting.
Law enforcement is his passion.
“I love being a cop,” he said. “I love being a part of a community and protecting them from those who want to harm them. I love that Orinda residents are stretched out, but everyone knows each other, and we have a large family feel to this community.”
The Chief is ready to pick up where he left off, especially with the team he’s been given.
“I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead,” said Rossi. “We have a great team at Orinda PD and we will always be prepared to handle whatever is thrown our way with the professional manner and courage expected of us by this community.”
