Sonoma State University police Chief Nathan Johnson to resign

Sonoma State University police Chief Nathan Johnson will formally resign from his post at the end of July, 14 months after he was placed on paid administrative leave following a domestic disturbance at his home.

Johnson, 55, has been on paid leave since June 1 after investigators said he fired a handgun into a wall and stabbed his stepson with a power drill during a May 30 fight at his home in Hayward. He never returned to his job, which paid $169,416 annually.

No charges were pressed against Johnson or his stepson, Elijah Latimar, who was 20 at the time of the incident, said Sgt. Ray Kelly, spokesman for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated the dispute.

It is unknown if Johnson was given the option to resume his position as police chief or if he was asked to retire. His employment details are confidential, said Tammy Kenber, associate vice president of human resources at SSU.

The university disclosed his departure in a two-sentence statement posted online.

“After 36 years of successful public service as a law enforcement officer and administrator, Sonoma State University Chief of Police Nathan Johnson has decided to transition to a new phase of his career and life,” SSU spokesman Nicolas Grizzle posted. “The University wishes the Chief well and plans to launch a search for his replacement as soon as possible.”

Johnson was named chief of police at SSU in 1999. He left the university in 2010, when he became chief law enforcement officer for the California State University system, then returned to his role at SSU in 2013, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also served as the university’s executive director for enterprise risk management.

Before joining SSU, he served 13 years as public safety director for the University of San Francisco, where he earned a doctorate in organization and leadership, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The incident that took Johnson off active duty is considered a family issue and not a criminal issue, said Kelly.

Neither the chief nor his stepson wanted to press charges against each other, he said.

“He didn’t get any favor because of his position in law enforcement,” Kelly said. “Considering everything that happened I think it worked out for every party involved.”

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nrahaim.