Exeter Police Department

Overview of the Exeter Police Department

The Exeter Police Department is a municipal law enforcement agency located in Exeter, a small city in Tulare County, California. Established to serve and protect the community of Exeter, the department is responsible for maintaining public safety, enforcing local and state laws, and responding to criminal activity within its jurisdiction. Exeter, with a population of approximately 10,000 residents during the 1970s, is situated in the Central Valley, near the larger city of Visalia. The department operates under the governance of the City of Exeter and collaborates with other regional law enforcement agencies, including the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, to address crime in the area.

While specific historical records about the department’s founding date are not widely publicized, it has been a longstanding entity serving the community since at least the mid-20th century. The Exeter Police Department typically employs a small staff of sworn officers and support personnel, reflecting the size of the city it serves. Its mission focuses on community policing, crime prevention, and emergency response.

Connection to Joseph DeAngelo and the Golden State Killer Case

The Exeter Police Department is notably linked to Joseph James DeAngelo, identified as the Golden State Killer, a serial offender responsible for at least 13 murders, 50 rapes, and over 100 burglaries across California from the 1970s to the 1980s. DeAngelo was employed as a police officer with the Exeter Police Department from 1973 to 1976. During this period, he served as a sworn officer while simultaneously engaging in criminal activities. DeAngelo is confirmed to have been active as the Visalia Ransacker, a prolific burglar responsible for over 100 break-ins in the nearby city of Visalia, located just 10 miles from Exeter. These burglaries, which occurred between 1974 and 1976, are among his earliest known crimes and marked the beginning of a decades-long spree of violence.

DeAngelo’s employment with the Exeter Police Department provided him with knowledge of law enforcement tactics and procedures, which likely aided in evading capture during his early criminal activities. In 1976, he transferred to the Auburn Police Department in Northern California, where he continued his law enforcement career until his termination in 1979 for shoplifting. His time in Exeter remains a critical point of interest in understanding the timeline of his offenses and the duality of his role as both a law enforcement officer and a serial offender.

Broader Significance in the Golden State Killer Investigation

The Exeter Police Department’s connection to DeAngelo highlights the complexities of the Golden State Killer case, particularly how an individual could operate within law enforcement while committing heinous crimes. This duality delayed suspicion and contributed to the decades-long challenge of identifying and apprehending DeAngelo. His eventual capture in 2018, through the innovative use of forensic genealogy, underscored the importance of revisiting historical records and connections, including his early career in Exeter. While the department itself was not implicated in wrongdoing, its association with DeAngelo serves as a reminder of the challenges in detecting criminal behavior within trusted institutions.