Fresh from the University of Santa Clara, Oakland native Dunbar joined his hometown police department as a patrol officer in 1982. He was promoted to sergeant five years later, and in 1991 he was the first supervisor to arrive at the scene of the Oakland hills fire that killed 25 people and destroyed 3,300 homes. Dunbar received a Medal of Merit for directing officers during the evacuation. He was promoted to lieutenant, then captain, and in 1999 was appointed deputy chief.

“He’s done an outstanding job,” Councilman Michael Harris said. He also praised Dunbar’s community involvement, particularly his leadership roles with the Special Olympics Northern California Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA in Pleasant Hill.

Dunbar will continue teaching California Peace Officers Standards and Training management courses through the San Diego Regional Training Center and the California Police Chiefs Association, of which he is a vice president. He plans to spend most of his time in Evergreen, Colo., just outside Denver, where he and his wife have owned a house for three years.

“Working in Pleasant Hill has been a great way to finish my career,” Dunbar said. “I can’t think of any better way for it to end.” Read more at The Mercury News.