Anthony Ribera


Anthony "Tony" Ribera is the former Police chief of the City and County of San Francisco.

Early life and education

Ribera grew up in San Francisco's Richmond District where he attended George Washington High School and went on to earn a Ph.D in Public Administration from Golden Gate University.

Chief of Police

As Chief of Police, Ribera was known for his hair-trigger temper and aggressive "my way or the highway" approach which was detested in the Department. Deputy Chief Frank Reed responded to an interview about Ribera's style saying "Yes, we have had very lively and spirited discussions both in our private conferences and in other places, as well. The chief is very hard of hearing in his left ear so everything he says is in a loud tone."

Sexual harassment allegations

In Ribera's second year as Chief of Police, department spokeswoman Joanne Welsh accused Ribera of pressuring her for sexual favors following her firing from the Police Department's Public Affairs Office in 1993. Ribera denied the allegations and any rumors of him stepping down as Chief. In 1995, Ribera and the San Francisco Police Department ultimately won the court battle on Joanne Welsh's sexual harassment allegation but lost on her claim of gender bias, with the jury agreeing she had suffered emotional distress and awarding her $56,835 in damages.

2003 Mayoral race

Ribera ran as the sole Republican in the November 2003 Mayoral Race, finishing in sixth place with 2.4% of the vote.

Retirement

After the mayoral race, Ribera retired from San Francisco politics and is now an assistant professor at the University of San Francisco where he teaches law enforcement.