Turlock Police Chief Gary Hampton has accepted an offer to take over the helm of the Tracy Police Department.

Hampton confirmed that he has been offered the chief of police position with the City of Tracy and that he has a verbal agreement with the city manager. His employment is contingent on his contract being approved by the Tracy City Council.

“They contacted me about the position,” Hampton said. “I have achieved all the goals I had set for myself here and feel the time is right for a new career challenge.”

Hampton, whose resignation is effective July 31, served with the Tracy Police Department for 10 years and rose to the rank of captain before leaving in 2003 to become Oakdale’s chief of police. He has been with the Turlock Police Department for five years.

Tracy began their search for a new police chief on June 8, when Chief Janet Thiessen announced she was leaving for personal reasons.

Stepping into Turlock’s vacancy will be Dave Young, who will serve as the interim chief while a search for a new chief is conducted.

Young retired as assistant chief from the Modesto Police Department and previously served as a captain with the Turlock Police Department in 2007 during a staffing transition.

Young also served as the interim director of the Stanislaus County Animal Services Department.

City Manager Roy Wasden said the city has not finalized any plans for the search for the next police chief.

“It could run the gamut from hiring an executive search company to looking at promoting in-house,” Wasden said.

Wasden did say he hopes to have the position filled by the fall.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.