Late Friday afternoon, members of the Folsom Police Department, city leaders, regional law enforcement partners, family, and supporters gathered on the front steps of the police station to form a gauntlet-style farewell for Interim Police Chief Randy Ulibarri. The longtime law enforcement leader walked out of the building for the final time and officially signed off, marking the end of his second tenure leading the department and what he says will be his final retirement.
For Ulibarri — whose career spans more than four decades across five California cities — the sendoff capped a period of steady guidance during a leadership transition following the retirement of Chief Rick Hillman. His return to Folsom this year came more than a decade after he first served as interim chief from 2010 to 2011. His long career also included six years as Chief of Police in Union City and interim chief roles in Williams, Vacaville, and Newman. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from California State University, Hayward, an associate’s degree from Ohlone Community College, and advanced training from the FBI National Academy, the POST Supervisory Leadership Institute, and California POST.
Despite the breadth of his experience, Friday’s farewell focused less on résumés and more on relationships — those formed inside the department and those shaped by the community he served. “This is the last time. I’m really, really retiring this time,” Ulibarri said with a smile as supporters listened. “I retired the first time in 2006. This is like my fifth — let’s see, there was Newman, then Folsom, then Vacaville, then Williams, three years at Post, and back to Folsom. And now all these years later my wife said, ‘Enough’s enough.’”
City Manager Brian Whitemyer shared how Ulibarri’s return began almost by coincidence. After bumping into him earlier in the year, Whitemyer sent a selfie to the city manager of Newman, sparking a conversation about Ulibarri’s leadership style and the strong impressions he had made in multiple departments.
At the time, the city was preparing for Chief Hillman’s retirement, and Whitemyer began asking trusted community members who they believed could guide the department through the transition. The same answer surfaced repeatedly. Four to five individuals, asked independently, each recommended Ulibarri without hesitation.
Whitemyer said that once Ulibarri agreed to return, the impact was immediate. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the work he’s done,” Whitemyer said. “I couldn’t be more pleased with just how he interacted with me, with our executive management team, with council, with the men and the women of the Folsom Police Department and the community at large. He was responsive, professional, and just really, really great to work with.” He added that Ulibarri’s sense of humor — a quality not always emphasized in law enforcement — provided much-needed balance during a demanding period.
Whitemyer also extends thanks to Ulibarri’s wife, Kathy, whom he credited for encouraging her husband to accept the role again. Before concluding, he presented the chief with an American flag flown over the Folsom Police Department on September 3, Kathy’s birthday, as a gesture of appreciation.
Ulibarri followed with remarks that focused on gratitude rather than accomplishments. “The first word that comes to mind is thank you,” he said. “I wanna thank all the men and women of the Folsom Police Department for supporting me and being part of your team. Greatly appreciate it.” He also emphasized the strong partnership between the department and city residents, noting, “There’s no other agency in Sacramento County that enjoys the relationship that we enjoy with our community. And it’s because of the hard work, dedication, and effort that the men and women of the Folsom Police Department put together to make that happen.”
He acknowledged administrative assistant Tracy Callahan “for keeping me on track, on course,” and then turned to put his arm around his wife as the crowd applauded. “We’re here right now because of her,” he said. “But Kathy had me say yes. None of this would have occurred. Now we are going to focus on retirement, something I like to describe as living like teenagers again, only with money this time.”
The ceremony concluded with Ulibarri receiving the American flag , along with gifts for him and his wife from Adrian Blanco, president of the Folsom Police Foundation and owner of Adrian Blanco Jewelry.
As Ulibarri steps into what he calls his true retirement, Folsom now prepares to welcome its next permanent chief. On Monday, December 8, the city will officially welcome Chief Green, who comes to Folsom following a distinguished 24-year career with the Sacramento Police Department. Green rose through the ranks to Deputy Chief, overseeing the Office of Operations, the Office of Specialized Services, and the Office of Investigations. His work included managing multimillion-dollar budgets, guiding organizational restructuring, strengthening federal and regional partnerships, and expanding both domestic violence response initiatives and community engagement programs.
In his new role, Chief Green will lead a team of 125 employees and 50 volunteers and oversee all services and programs within the Folsom Police Department. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California State University, Sacramento, and a master’s degree in emergency services administration from California State University, Long Beach. His executive training includes programs through the Major City Chiefs Police Executive Leadership Institute, the California Police Chiefs Association Executive Leadership Institute, the POST Executive Development Course, and the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.
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