Two officers of the Turlock Police Department were promoted this week: Nino Amirfar to lieutenant and Carl Nielsen to captain.

Captain Nielsen began his law enforcement career in 1985 with the San Diego Police Department. He moved to the Tracy Police Department in 1999, where he was promoted to sergeant. He came to the Turlock Police Department in August 2007 as a lieutenant assigned to Field Operations.

 In 2008, he graduated from Leadership Turlock, and in 2011 he graduated from Command College.  On Monday, Nielsen was promoted to captain with the Turlock Police Department.

“I appreciate the opportunity and trust of the community as I step into this role,” Nielsen said. “(The Turlock Police Department) has been a new family for me the last four years.”

Lieutenant Amirfar began his law enforcement career in 1989 with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. He came to the Turlock Police Department in August  1990. He worked as a patrol officer and in 1995, was appointed as a Field Training Officer. In 1998, he was appointed as a Drug Suppression Officer, and in 1999 appointed as a School Resource Officer.

In 2003, Amirfar was promoted to corporal, and in 2007 to sergeant. In 2008, he was assigned to the Professional Standards Unit. On Monday, Amirfar was promoted to lieutenant with the Turlock Police Department.

“Turlock’s my home and this is where I’ve chosen to live, raise my family and be a part of the community,” Amirfar said about his decision to continue his career in Turlock.

Nielsen and Amirfar said, in their new roles, they plan to continue following the department’s strategic plan and work with the community for a safer Turlock.

The search for Turlock’s next full-time police chief is ongoing.  The Turlock City Council approved hiring Teri Black and Co. in September to conduct an executive recruitment process.

The recruiter will be tasked with finding a successor to former Chief Gary Hampton, who left to head the Tracy Police Department on July 31. Since then, Dave Young has served as the Interim Chief of Police.

Teri Black and Co.’s services will cost the City of Turlock $25,000, which will be funded from the current Police Department budget using funding which would otherwise have been part of the police chief salary.

The Turlock Police Department is an active participant in the Crime Stoppers Program.  Callers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at 521-4636 and may be eligible for a cash reward. 

To contact Kristina Hacker, e-mail khacker@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2004.