08/13/2026
After more than 32 years of dedicated service to the Redwood City Police Department, it is with both gratitude and appreciation that we announce the retirement of Lead Communications Dispatcher Sylvia Maldonado-Kirkpatrick. Beginning her career with the Department in 1994 as a Dispatcher, she quickly established herself as an exceptional communications professional whose calm demeanor, extensive knowledge, and steadfast commitment to serving both the public and her fellow employees made her an invaluable member of our team.
In 2023, she was promoted to Lead Dispatcher, a role in which she continued to mentor others and exemplify professionalism and leadership. Within the Communications Center, Sylvia will be remembered not only for her professionalism and expertise, but also for the personality and humor she brought to the room each day. Her familiar phrases became part of the fabric of the dispatch center. Throughout her career, she consistently went above and beyond the responsibilities of her position. Her remarkable investigative instincts, exceptional recall, and persistence routinely assisted officers in identifying suspects, locating critical information, and solving cases that otherwise may have gone unresolved. From helping identify suspects with minimal information, to locating decades-old records that reunited stolen property with its rightful owner, to providing critical assistance during major investigations, her contributions extended far beyond the communications center.
During her time with the City, she received the Dispatcher of the Year award a total of 7 times, and in 2013 was named Professional of the Year by the Department. Over the course of three decades, she earned the respect of everyone who had the privilege of working alongside her.
Please join us in congratulating Sylvia on an extraordinary career and wishing her a happy, healthy, and well-deserved retirement. We thank her for 32 years of outstanding service and wish her nothing but the very best in this next chapter.
