The Tiburon Police Department has promoted Officer Justin Hettich to sergeant and added a fifth supervisory position to its roster, a staffing shift that also eliminates one patrol officer slot.

Hettich's promotion took effect July 1. The department announced it on Instagram on July 27, noting his 18½ years in law enforcement, including six years serving Tiburon.

The move formalizes a role Hettich had filled informally since January 2025, when Sgt. Rob Law shifted to full-time detective duties under a six-month pilot program. That left one patrol team without a supervising sergeant, and Hettich stepped in as officer in charge for roughly 18 months before the promotion became official.

What the numbers look like now

The department now has five sergeants and six authorized officer positions, plus four reserve officers, Police Chief Michelle Jean told The Ark.

But the effective headcount is thinner than those numbers suggest. Officer William Forrest Condit has been on paid administrative leave since October 2025, leaving five officers available for patrol. And with Law working full time as a detective, four sergeants handle patrol supervision.

The fifth sergeant position was funded in the town's new budget. In exchange, one authorized patrol officer position was cut.

A small department managing gaps

For a department that logged 760 calls for service in May 2026 alone, the staffing picture matters.

The trade-off gives Tiburon more supervisory coverage on each shift but fewer officers to respond to calls.

Hettich joined the Tiburon Police Department in 2020 after more than 12 years at other agencies. In its Instagram announcement, the department praised his steady leadership and professionalism during his 18 months as acting sergeant.

The department's command staff also includes Captain Jarrod Yee under Chief Jean.

No timeline has been announced for filling the officer vacancy created by Condit's leave or for any further staffing changes.