Please help us congratulate the Hanford Police Department's newest captain, Stephanie Huddleston.
Huddleston has been in the law enforcement field for 23 years, starting as a probation officer in Tulare and Kings Counties. Huddleston joined the Hanford Police Department as an officer in 2006, rising to the rank of lieutenant in February of 2020.
For the last five years, she has been the program manager of Hanford PAL, a youth crime prevention program providing athletic, recreational and educational resources and opportunities to local youth.
"I take a lot of pride in the program," Huddleston said. "It's something we can do to help kids in the community and afford them opportunities they may not otherwise have."
Huddleston has a bachelor's and master's degree in criminology from Fresno State University and will be pursuing a doctorate in criminal justice leadership from Liberty University.
With her promotion to captain, Huddleston becomes the highest-ranking female in the department's history.
“I am fortunate to work for a great department and I am honored to be selected for this position," she said. "I truly love what I do, the department, and the community I work for. I am very excited about this next chapter of my career with the Hanford Police Department.”
Huddleston and her husband of 12 years share three children together.
She starts her new role on March 20.