Getting to know Sean McDonagh

10 questions for Sebastopol's new police chief

Sean McDonagh (Photo by Laura Hagar Rush)

Sean McDonagh was hired as Sebastopol’s new police chief on March 5. Before that, he’d worked in law enforcement in Australia and, after he moved to the U.S. in 2016, as a police chief in small towns in Colorado. He was hired after an intensive search and interview process. He’s a big fan of community engagement so no doubt you’ll be seeing him around town. We sent Sean some quick questions so readers could get to know him a little better.

Where did you grow up and what was it like?

I grew up not far from Sydney, Australia. We lived on an acreage property with horses, tractors, old cars and life was great. It was a beautiful place to grow up and only about 30-40 minutes from the beautiful beaches of the Australian coast, with the best fish and chips. Weather was not dissimilar to parts of California, with cool winters and hot summers.

What kind of kid were you in high school/college?

I was fortunate to attend great schools and to be afforded many fantastic opportunities. That allowed me to be able to attend and complete college courses and university. Looking back, I’d say that I was just your average kid at school. When I'd finish school, I’d work around my parent’s property on the lawn tractor keeping the grass cut, the tractor keeping the pastures at bay, or for our neighbors keeping their cars clean. That would kick the tin and give me some cash to spend. Work ethic was instilled at a young age, and I’m glad that it was.

When did you first become interested in law enforcement?

I’d say that my first interest in becoming a police officer was when I was 5 years old. A close family friend who was a police officer gave me a police hat. Ironically, it was stolen from my school when I took it in for show and tell. Perhaps being the victim of a crime that seemed so heinous at the time became the driving force behind me becoming an officer. I still haven’t identified the culprit for that heist!

What’s your favorite part about being in the police/a police chief?

For me, my favorite part about being in the police has changed over the years. I think we all become peace officers to effect positive change in the community, catching the ‘criminals,’ so to speak. As I have progressed through a variety of roles and responsibilities in my career, community engagement has become more and more important to me. Working in a community such as Sebastopol and those I was at previously, you can really see the difference that you can make with that engagement. I also love to engage with the kids, so if you see me out and about, don’t hesitate to ask me for stickers; they’re always in my pocket!

In reference to my favorite part about being a police chief, it’s the ability to lead those that I work with by example. You can’t lead an organization; you can only run it. You can lead people, though. I also try to instill an approach in those I work with that we exist to protect the vulnerable from harm. If we can apply that logic to our every call for service, we’ll do great things in our community.

What’s your least favorite part about being in law enforcement?

We are expected to wear a variety of ‘hats,’ many of which we’re not trained to perform, yet the expectation to perform those duties remains. One example is the distinct lack of support for mental health services. It’s a nationwide issue, and a large percentage of our calls for service relate in one way or another to mental health. It’s an area where I would very much like to see improvements and investments made, as police are not trained and certified mental health professionals.

What do you wish ordinary citizens understood about police work?

That we spend a large portion of our time completing reports/paperwork as part of our daily duties, along with continuous mandatory training requirements which impact our ability to be out and about as much as we’d like to be. I don’t think it’s widely known just how onerous the office work aspects of this occupation are, and it gets more and more so with each passing day.

What trends in policing do you find most interesting or valuable?

I find aspects of improving technology in policing to be very interesting. Many of the advancements in tech are aiding in keeping our officers safe and are also assisting us in achieving more timely outcomes for investigations.

What were the values most emphasized in your home when you were growing up?

My parents both worked and provided a supportive home. I believe that created a strong work ethic as I grew up and to this day, I am a workaholic.

What are the values that you emphasize with your children?

Life isn’t a picnic and there’s no participation award in the real world. If you want it, you’ve got to work hard for it. You’ll also appreciate it more when you’ve strived for it, too.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

That I played the drums for many years. I’m stuck in the ’80s and love to attend concerts.

Got any hobbies?

Quite a few, actually. Restoring ’60s muscle cars and now vintage police vehicles that I like to use in community engagement and parades. The kids love to check out all the equipment and play with the lights. I also enjoy skiing, enjoying the boat on the lake and traveling.

Favorite books or podcasts and why?

I’ve always been drawn to books documenting war and learning about the sacrifices that so many before us made. I also really enjoy Simon Sinek’s perspectives on leadership. He has a very motivating and inspirational presentation style, especially when you see him live.

The new chief with one of the department’s new black and whites. (Photo courtesy Sean McDonagh)