BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Chief Andrew Binder has picked James Reifschneider to be his second in command atop the Palo Alto Police Department.
Reifschneider, 45, was promoted from captain to assistant chief on March 11, Binder said in an email to council.
Reifschneider joined the department in 2004. He spent eight years as the department’s tactical commander, overseeing the SWAT team and crisis egotiation team on searches, arrest varrants and fugitive apprehensions, Binder said.
Goes before council
Reifschneider regularly interacts with council, the District Attorney’s Office, other police agencies and the city’s independent police auditor, Binder told council.
“Throughout his career, James has been entrusted with many of the department’s most complex and high-liability assignments and tasks with developing and facilitating the implementation of new policies,” Binder said. “This has been no easy task as our profession has experienced a cultural shift in community expectations in how we serve and protect the public in an ever-changing environment over the last few years.”
Reifschneider will get a raise from $275,039 to $306,933 plus benefits.
Before working as a police officer, Reifschneider was an attorney with a degree from UC Law San Francisco.
Second home
“Palo Alto is the only department for which I’ve worked and it’s become a second home to me, Reifschneider said in an email yesterday. “I appreciate Chief Binder’s kind words and vote of confidence, and I am looking forward to continuing to serve the residents of Palo Alto for a long time to come.”
Binder, 49, is returning to the organizational structure from before he was promoted from assistant chief to chief in August 2022, replacing Bob Jonsen, who became Santa Clara County Sheriff.
Other captains
Binder initially had three captains and no assistant chief. Now he has two captains: Zach Perron and April Wagner. Underneath them are four lieutenants: Dave Lce, Craig Lee, Kara Apple and Ben Becchetti.
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