After just two years at the helm of the agency that he helped get off the ground, Lathrop Police Chief Raymond Bechler is no longer an employee of the city.

In a press release issued shortly after 6 p.m. on Friday, the City of Lathrop announced that Bechler’s time with the City of Lathrop had come to a close, and the development was “effective immediately.”

The city thanked Bechler for his efforts in helping to establish the department – he was hired away from Contra Costa County in 2021 almost 9 months before the Lathrop Police Department was launched – and wished him “the best in his future endeavors.”

Current Lathrop Police Commander Stephan Sealy will serve as the Interim Police Chief.

“In any organization, change is inevitable, and we believe this change is in the best interest of the community we serve,” Lathrop City Manager Steve Salvatore said of the development. “We are proud to elevate Commander Stephen Sealy to this critical role.

“Of significant note is that Commander Sealy is a fellow resident of Lathrop, which adds a significant layer of community commitment to his new role.”

In the release – which did not detail Bechler’s next move, or the details surrounding his departure – the City of Lathrop said that they remain committed to providing the quality of service that residents have come to expect in the last 15 months that the city has been providing law enforcement services.

“The City of Lathrop has found that having a dedicated police force significantly contributes to the safety and well-being of its residents,” the city said in the release. “While leadership changes can be challenging, our primary mission is to serve and protect the citizens of Lathrop and this remains steadfast.”

Bechler was hired as the city’s first independent police chief – making him vital in selecting the command staff and shaping the culture of the department that was more than three decades in the making. While the moniker of chief was often carried by those who served as the face of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office’s point person in Lathrop for the contracted services that were being provided, that person often carried the rank of lieutenant within the sheriff’s office structure.

While Bechler was the first hire announced by the city, Sealy was part of the second – announcing both him and Kyle Oki as the commanders that answered to Bechler. Sealy has been serving as the Operations Commander, putting him in charge of field operations for the agency while Oki served as the commander of the support services unit.

Earlier this month Bechler represented the Lathrop Police Department at the “meet with the chief” event held monthly in the agency’s community room. Bechler also wrote the chief’s note in the agency’s first ever annual report released this past summer after the first year of providing services to the community.

“It’s an honor and a pleasure to serve as the City of Lathrop’s first Chief of Police,” Bechler wrote in the letter’s introduction. “I have been in law enforcement for over three decades and building our police department has been by far the highlight of my career.”

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.