Chief of Police
Charlie Fivecoat

Charlie Fivecoat was raised in Kern County and is familiar with many of the local issues facing our community.  He retired as a Division Commander with the Kern County Sheriff's Department in October of 2001 and worked as a full-time college professor until coming to the Shafter Police Department in July 2006.  Chief Fivecoat has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Chief Fivecoat administers the Office of Traffic Safety Avoid 18 grant which incorporates 18 law enforcement agencies in Kern County, which benefits all who live here.

He was a receipient of the Kern County Law Enforcement Foundation's "Administrator of the Year" for 2007.

Chief Fivecoat also initiated the first "Build-A-Bike" program, taking found or donated bicycles which needed major repairs and rebuilding, then working with volunteers and kids to build their own bicycle. The program took over 3 months to complete, but in the end, about 50 children received bikes they'd worked on with other volunteers.