Brian Baker
Chief of Police

Chief Brian Baker joined the Yuba City Police Department as a cadet officer in May 1994.  After attending the Yuba College Police Academy, Chief Baker became a level II reserve officer and shortly thereafter completed the department’s field training program.  He was a level I reserve officer for a  short period of time and became a fulltime officer in March 1999.  While a patrol officer Chief Baker was a background investigator, and the department’s cadet program coordinator. Brian was named Officer of the Year in 2001. 

In 2002 Chief Baker was assigned to the Investigations Unit as a detective until December 2005, when he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  While a Sergeant Brian worked patrol, traffic, and investigations.  In July 2016 Brian was promoted to Lieutenant where he served as a watch commander and as the department’s training manager, along with various other duties.  Brian was promoted to Commander in June 2019.  Brian was appointed Chief of Police in September 2021. 

Chief Baker possesses an Associate in Science degree from Yuba Community College, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  Brian also possesses a Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration from California State University, Long Beach.  Chief Baker has completed the Los Angeles Police Department Leadership Program, along with the POST Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, and the POST Executive Development Course.  Brian has received Management Level Certification from California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.  During his employ with the police department, Brian has received numerous awards and commendations from both the department and members of the community. 

Brian is an active member in our community and volunteers his time to a variety of area charitable causes.  Brian is a past president of the Yuba City Kiwanis Club, and is currently member of the Yuba Sutter Kiwanis Supper Club.  Chief Baker has been a board member and a past president of the California Robbery Investigators Association since 2004.  During his career Chief Baker has served on the board of directors for the Yuba City Police Officers Association, and served three years as president. 

Brian and his fiancé Renee live in Yuba City, where Brian has called home for the past 30 plus years. Brian enjoys spending time with his daughters Morgan and Brooke and with friends.

Toni Darwazeh
Administrative Assistant
Office of the Chief of Police

Toni Darwazeh joined YCPD in 2006.  Her interest in law enforcement started early in high school and has come full circle to the position as Administrative Assistant to the Office of the Chief of Police.  While in high school she was a cadet for the Yuba County Sheriff's Department as well as working part time at Yuba City Police Department doing miscellaneous duties which included answering and routing non-emergency calls, helping in Records and Dispatch.

After graduation, Toni continued ties with Law Enforcement by working a temporary position at the Department of Justice.  She worked many years as an office manager and bookkeeper in the private sector mainly with agribusiness.  During these years she and her husband Kevin raised four amazing children, Nowell, Kevin, Natalie and Brian.

Along with the many hats she wears at YCPD, Toni is one of the departments Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) facilitators as well as a Spanish interpreter.  She is the recipient of the Department's Employee of the Year Award, the Police Unit Commendation ribbon and in 2017 received the Police Individual Commendation Medal for her work during the Oroville Dam incident.

Toni enjoys life in Browns Valley with her husband Kevin.  Along with their grown children, they have two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Sam Escheman
Commander
Support Services Division

Commander Sam Escheman began his law enforcement career in 1995 as a Deputy Sheriff for the Yuba County Sheriffs Department. As a Deputy Sheriff he worked in corrections at the Yuba County Jail. Pursuing his law enforcement career, he entered the police academy in 1997 and moved to the Yuba County Probation Department where he was a group counselor at Bi-County Juvenile Hall.

In 1998, Escheman began his employment with the Marysville Police Department as a Police Officer assigned to the Patrol Division. During his time with Marysville, he became a narcotics agent and was assigned to the Yuba-Sutter Narcotics Enforcement Team-5 (NET-5), and was recognized as the 1999 Officer of the Year.

In 2001, Escheman began his career with the Yuba City Police Department. He has held the positions of patrol officer, field training officer, detective, traffic officer, canine handler, and narcotics agent. Escheman was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2017. As a Sergeant, he worked as a patrol supervisor, K-9 supervisor, and the task force supervisor for the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Taskforce (NET-5). Escheman was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2020.  As a Lieutenant he oversaw the Operations Support Division, which consists of the dispatch center, records unit, community policing unit, and oversight of the department budget.  Escheman was promoted to the rank of Commander in 2021 and oversees the Support Services Division.

Escheman is a graduate of Marysville High School, he possesses an Associate of Arts degree from Yuba College, and a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Long Beach. Escheman is the recipient of numerous department awards and commendations, including the department lifesaving medal with valor.

Escheman coach's youth football and has held positions on local school site councils and local athletic boards. During his career, Escheman has served on the board of directors of the Yuba City Police Officers Association, and served two years as president.

Commander Escheman is a lifelong resident of the Yuba-Sutter area. He is married to Megan (formerly Lybarger) and they have two daughters  and a son.

Jim Runyen
Commander
Patrol Division

Commander Jim Runyen joined the Yuba City Police Department in 2006 as a lateral officer from Huntington Beach Police Department.  He worked as a patrol officer, Field Training Officer and in 2007 was assigned to the Narcotic Enforcement Team (NET-5) where he served until 2011.  Runyen was assigned to the Investigations Unit in 2012 as a Detective until his promotion to the rank of Sergeant in 2013.  He served as a Use of Force instructor for the department as well as Active Shooter (ALICE) instructor for the community.

  As a sergeant he worked as a Patrol Supervisor and was later assigned as Supervisor of the Traffic Education and Enforcement Division until he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2017.  As a lieutenant, Runyen oversaw the Operations Support Division, Patrol Division, and was a Tactical Commander on the Yuba Sutter Regional SWAT Team.

Runyen is a second-generation law enforcement officer.  He graduated from California State University Chico, in 2002 and from Golden West College Basic Police Academy in 2003.  He obtained his master’s degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma in 2021.  He has completed the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and the Los Angeles Police Department Leadership Academy.  He is the recipient of numerous department awards.

Runyen is married to Stacy, and they have two children.  He is on the board of Sutter Buttes Little League and involved in coaching sports and helping with the activities of his children. 

Kim Slade
Lieutenant
Support Services

Lieutenant Kim Slade began his law enforcement career with Yuba City Police Department in 2000.  He has held positions of patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, SWAT officer and he was recognized as the 2004 Officer of the year for the Yuba City Police Department.  Lt. Slade was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2007.  As a Sergeant, he worked as a patrol supervisor and supervisor for the Traffic Education and Enforcement unit.  Lt. Slade was promoted to Lieutenant in 2020.  As a Lieutenant he oversees the Patrol Division.

Lt. Slade is a graduate of Marysville High School, he possesses an Associate of Arts degree from Yuba College, Bachelor of Science degree from Chapman University and a Master of Science Degree from California State University Long Beach.  Lt. Slade has been awarded numerous department awards and commendations over his law enforcement career.

Lt. Slade has coached youth sports in the Yuba Sutter area for over 15 years to include football, basketball, baseball and wrestling.  Lt. Slade has served on the board of directors for the Yuba City Police Officers association as a general board member.

Lt. Slade has lived in the Yuba Sutter-area for over 40 years.  Lt. Slade has two sons and a daughter, with his oldest son currently serving in the United States Army.

Michelle Brazil
Lieutenant
Investigations

Lieutenant Michelle Brazil began her law enforcement career with the Yuba City Police Department in 2002.  She has held positions of patrol officer, background investigator, field training officer, detective, and hostage negotiator.  She was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2009.  As a Sergeant, she worked patrol, became the Sergeant in charge of the Hostage Negotiation Team, and oversaw the Reserve Officer program.  Before her promotion, she was the Task Force Supervisor for the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Task Force (NET-5).  She was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2021 and initially oversaw the Operations Support Division, which consisted of the dispatch center, records unit, community policing unit, and oversight of the department budget.  She is now the Lieutenant of Support Services which includes the investigation Units, Community Policing Unit, and is the Press Information Officer.

Lieutenant Brazil is a graduate of Durham High School, and possesses a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Chico State which she obtained in 1999.  Lieutenant Brazil is also a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.  She is a recipient of numerous department awards of which include the life saving award and the individual commendation award.

Michelle is married to Tracy and they live in the Yuba/Sutter area.  Michelle enjoys spending time with her grandson Jae and many outside activities.

Stephen Thornton
Lieutenant
Patrol Division

Lieutenant Thornton began his law enforcement career in 1986 as a cadet for the Yuba City Police Department. He was hired as a fulltime officer in 1989.  Lieutenant Thornton has held the ancillary assignments of Cadet Advisor, Field Training Officer, SWAT Officer, Ranger Master, Canine Handler/Coordinator, Less Lethal Instructor and Detective.  In 2008 Lieutenant Thornton was promoted to the Rank of Sergeant.  As a Sergeant, Lieutenant Thornton oversaw patrol, the Field Training Officer and Less Lethal Munitions training programs.  In 2017 Lieutenant Thornton was re-assigned to the Investigation’s Unit.  Lieutenant Thornton supervised the Investigations Unit until he promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2021.   Lieutenant Thornton oversees patrol and the department’s Officer Wellness Program.

Lieutenant Thornton grew up in the Yuba Sutter area, attending local schools and graduated from Marysville High School and possesses an Associate of Science Degree in Administration of Justice and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Justice Management.  He is the recipient of numerous department awards which include the Medal of Valor.

Lieutenant Thornton has coached youth sports in the area for 20 years, which included youth and high school baseball and wrestling.  Lieutenant Thornton has served on the on the board of directors for the Yuba City Police Officers Association, which included Vice President and President.

Lieutenant Thornton has been married to his wife since 1989 and has three sons, who are all first responders in the local area, and four grandchildren.