By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Officer Dack Thompson, 51, completed the 585-hour Santa Rosa Junior College Firefighter Academy.
- Thompson is one of the oldest trainees to finish the program and did so to meet dual-role police-fire requirements in his department.
- He has a long law enforcement career, including service with the San Francisco Police Department and work during California wildfires.
- The consolidated police-fire department in Rohnert Park requires police officers to complete firefighter training.
- Thompson overcame injuries and physical challenges during the academy.
ROHNERT PARK, CA — Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Officer Dack Thompson, 51, completed the 585-hour Santa Rosa Junior College Firefighter Academy on Dec. 19, 2025, officials said.
Thompson, one of the academy’s oldest trainees, underwent the rigorous program to fulfill the city’s requirement that police officers also complete firefighter training for the consolidated police-fire department.
A veteran law enforcement officer, Thompson previously served with the San Francisco Police Department, earning recognition including Officer of the Year and multiple citations.
He has lived and worked in Sonoma County since responding to the North Bay wildfires in 2017 and later transitioned to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, where he currently serves as an acting watch commander while completing his training.
Thompson managed physical challenges, including past injuries and age-related strain, during the academy’s demanding physical and classroom components. His completion of the program marks a milestone in his long career in public service.