Stinson joined the Sonora PD in 2005, and he became the Chief in 2008 following the retirement of Mace McIntosh. His career spans 36 years as he began policing in 1980. Before heading to Sonora, Stinson was the Supervising Investigator at the Shasta County District Attorney’s office heading up a division of fourteen investigators.
After eight years as the top cop in Sonora’s Police Department, Chief Mark Stinson has announced he will be retiring at the end of this year. He says he does not have any definite plans but will most likely be leaving the area. His last day will be December 16th.