In Memorium

KENNETH J. O’BRIEN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS

PASSED AWAY IN ROCKLIN, CA ON OCTOBER 5, 2010

Kenneth J. (Ken) O’Brien dedicated his professional life to serving the people of California in law enforcement and public safety for 52 years.

Ken began his career in 1955 and, for 31 years, he served with distinction in all ranks from Officer to Deputy Chief of Police for the San Diego Police Department. He authored the San Diego Police Department’s Unusual Occurrence and Department Resource manuals.

In 1986, Ken was appointed to the newly-created position of Director of Investigations for the State Bar of California. He served in that capacity from 1986 until 1989.

In 1989, Ken returned to the law enforcement field to serve as a Senior Consultant for Leadership Development at the Command College within the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) where he was subsequently promoted to Bureau Chief. In 1992, Ken was appointed by Governor Wilson to the position of Deputy Director of Program Compliance for the California Youth Authority’s Internal Affairs Division.

In 1995, Ken was appointed by Governor Wilson and confirmed by the Senate as the Youth and Adult Correction Agency’s Inspector General. His responsibilities included oversight of the investigative procedures for staff and administrative investigations conducted by the Department of Corrections, the California Youth Authority, and all other entities of the Agency.

In 1997, Ken was appointed as the Executive Director of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and returned to POST. In this position, Ken had full responsibility and authority for the routine internal management, and provided day-to-day direction of all POST staff in carrying out Commission direction, policy, and legislative mandates.

Ken earned the respect of his co-workers, academy administrators, chiefs, sheriffs, and law enforcement groups statewide. He provided leadership in creating an atmosphere of innovation and management support, and especially for pursuing goals and objectives in the POST Strategic Plan. Ken’s personal leadership and commitment to the POST Mission/Vision/Values statement fostered staff’s approach to work collaboratively and strive for excellence. Ken retired from POST in 2007 after an exemplary 10 years as Executive Director.

POST’s major accomplishments during Ken’s 10 years of leadership included:

• Increase in POST’s funding from $40 million to $61 million
• Implemented and maintained the highly-successful POST Strategic Plan
• Instituted mandatory training for academy and specialized instructors
• Instituted electronic data interchange with POST’s clients
• Made mandatory field training program (first of its kind in the nation)
• Established the Perishable Skills training requirement
• Established the Regional Skills Training Centers
• Improved standards/procedures for conducting background investigations, medical and psychological screening, and candidate oral interviews
• Developed basic course student workbooks (first of its kind)
• Improved and automated basic academy testing (TMAS) (first of its kind)
• Transitioned video training from broadcasted VHS video to CD-ROM to DVD
• Offered periodic Training Symposiums for instructors, detectives, recruiters, and leaders
• Implemented Internet/Web information services
• Developed and delivered Internet-based training programs and courses
• Established the POST Learning Portal for online training and information
• Instituted the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Peace Officer Training
• Established the online POST Catalog of Certified Courses
• Converted presentation mode of training to participative and student-centered
• Implemented the Line-Up Training Program
• Established an informational Basic Course Website

During POST’s 50 years of serving law enforcement, the Commission has conferred the title of Executive Director Emeritus twice. One was Gene Muehleisen, the first Executive Director who served with distinction for 14 years. The other was Ken O’Brien, the 6th Executive Director of POST, who served for 10 years. The Commission conferred the title of Executive Director Emeritus to Ken in a March 2007 Commission Resolution.

Ken was an active member of the California State Sheriffs' Association, the California Police Chiefs' Association, and the California Police Officers' Association. Ken had a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from National University, and was a graduate of: the 104th session of the FBI National Academy, the Management Institute of the University of California - San Diego, the U.S. Secret Service Dignity Protection Academy, and the POST Command College.

Ken was active in his community. He served on the Redevelopment Advisory Committee, the Civic Center Planning Committee, the Mobile Home Rent Control Committee, and the Planning Commission for the City of Rocklin where he was Chairman in 2002. Ken was also a Korean War veteran of the United States Marine Corps, an avid runner, and a San Francisco 49’er football fan.

Ken was married to his beloved wife, Bennie O’Brien, for 52 years. She preceded him in death in 2008. Ken is survived by his daughter Kathryn Compton (Jerry) of Norco, CA, and his son Michael O’Brien (Cinde) of Alpine, CA, and was a proud grandparent of granddaughter, Lacy, and grandsons Kristopher and Kody O’Brien.

Services for Ken were held in both Northern and Southern California.  A graveside service and celebration of life were held in San Diego.

Cards and condolences may be sent to:

The O'Brien Family, c/o Commission on POST, 1601 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95816