The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department has named Lt. Jeff Dirkse as the new Patterson Police Services Chief.

Dirkse’s appointment is contingent on approval from the Patterson City Council, which contracts their police services through the sheriff’s department.

Dirkse is replacing Lt. Tori Hughes, who has served as the Patterson chief for more than five years. She has accepted a new assignment as the Investigations Division Commander in the department.

 “I commend Tori for her leadership and commitment to the citizens of Patterson over the past several years, and I look forward to her service as the Investigations Division Commander” said Sheriff Adam Christianson in a news release.

Dirkse is a graduate of Turlock High School. After high school he attended the United States Military Academy in West Point and graduated in 1994. He served as an Infantry Company Commander in Iraq and has nine years of military service. He is currently a Major in the Army Reserves. 

Dirkse was hired as a deputy sheriff in March of 2007. His assignments have included working as a patrol deputy in Patterson, as a detective in the gang and narcotic units, as well as a rural crimes detective. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2013 and worked as patrol sergeant and detective sergeant in Internal Affairs. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant this year.

Dirkse is married and has three teenage children.