New Atwater police chief settles into job. Here’s where he stands on working with ICE

Richard McEachin started Dec. 19 as Atwater’s new police chief, taking on the role of leading the biggest department of his 20-year career in law enforcement.

The 54-year old sworn officer explained he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work closer to his Chowchilla home, and serving a community in the Central Valley.

“The most important thing is to serve the community and to serve it well. The community deserves a professional, exceptional police department,” he said.

Atwater is majority Latino. city. U.S. Census figures show that 57.5% of the community is Hispanic or Latino. That community has reported increased fears of mass deportation under incoming President Donald Trump’s administration. McEachin said his department would not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities if they planned on rounding up Atwater residents.

“In my 20 plus years in law enforcement, never once have I reported anyone that has any kind of illegal status to immigration, and I don’t intend on changing that,” McEachin said. “If people are here and they’re law-abiding residents, and they’re doing what they need to do to provide for their families and to make a better life for themselves, I’m not the one to get in the way of that.”

Among Atwater’s biggest public safety concerns have been traffic violations. Additionally, the effects of homelessness and budget constraints also impact public safety.

“We average a traffic accident a day in the city,” outgoing Police Chief Michael Salvador said. Speed violations and foggy weather often cause vehicle collisions across the city.

Setting roots in the Central Valley

McEachin comes from a family of law enforcement officers. His father served as a police lieutenant in California and as a police chief in Kansas. McEachin’s cousins and daughter have served as dispatchers and sworn officers in the state.

McEachin, an Antioch native, moved to the Central Valley in 2018 when he became the police chief in Dos Palos.

He “grew roots” in the community during those four years, including meeting his girlfriend.

He joined the Clayton police department in 2022, taking on the challenge of leading a force for a city of about 11,000 residents, nearly twice the size of Dos Palos, which has 6,000 residents.

McEachin received praise for his work in Clayton.

“Atwater can expect a Chief that is dedicated to the community and understands the importance of being engaged and supportive with other department heads, the city council, and the community as a whole,” Kris Lofthus, Clayton city manager said.

In November, McEachin announced his resignation from the Clayton Police Department, after having been approved for a three-year contract.

“Living in two different places got to be a little too much,” McEachin said. He was living in Brentwood, near Clayton, while on duty, and commuting more than two hours back to Chowchilla during his days off.

“I really was looking for something closer to what is now home. I intended to do another three years there, but this was something that I felt like I couldn’t pass up,” he said.

McEachin said he expects to make observations and ask questions during his first few weeks in office. “I’m really looking forward to being part of the community and helping the city to succeed,” he said.