Stewart retiring as Cotati police chief

Cotati Police Chief Robert Stewart is retiring after 35 years with the department.

A Santa Rosa resident, Stewart has headed the Cotati department since 1996 when he was named Acting Police Chief.

Stewart said Thursday he has no immediate plans in retirement. His last day is to be Dec. 30, but he likely will stay on for a few months as a temporary employee to assist with any transition issues, he said.

Stewart, 55, will earn $204,909 in salary and benefits this year. Last year he made about $220,000 but like all Cotati department heads, he took a pay cut this year as part of a round of budget cuts.

That same process reduced his department’s budget to $2.6 million this year.

The department has 12 sworn officers, including Stewart, and one is due to be laid off this month, he said. The department also has four dispatchers, a community service officer and a records supervisor.

“Ihave really enjoyed my career working in a small agency,” said Stewart, who joined the department in 1974 as a reserve police officer.

Still, he said, the department’s size came with challenges, as officers would often use it as a training ground before moving onto to better paying jobs at larger departments.