Probation Department
Brian Passenheim Chief Probation Officer, Placer County Probation Department
Brian Passenheim began his career with the Placer County Probation Department in 2004 as a Deputy Probation Officer, starting at the Juvenile Detention Facility. A graduate of Woodcreek High School in Roseville, Brian launched his career as a Correctional Officer with the Brookings County Detention Center in South Dakota.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from South Dakota State University in 2001, with minors in Criminal Justice and Spanish. Following his undergraduate studies, Brian served as a Parole Agent with the South Dakota Department of Corrections before returning to California to continue his public service.
Throughout his tenure at the Placer County Probation Department, Brian has promoted through every rank, demonstrating strong leadership and a commitment to excellence. He served as Assistant Chief Probation Officer from 2021 until his appointment as Chief Probation Officer in March 2025. In addition to his leadership roles, he has held a wide range of responsibilities including Background Investigator, Field Training Officer, Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, Co-Coordinator of the CSEC (Commercially Sexually Exploited Children) team, and Evidence Room Manager. In 2023, Brian earned a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego.
Brian is passionate about serving the community and is honored to lead the department in its mission to enhance public safety, promote rehabilitation, and support positive change throughout Placer County.
About the Probation Department
Placer County serves approximately 400,000 residents, from the City of Roseville to the shores of Lake Tahoe. The Probation Department provides an array of services to our citizens through our 140-employee workforce, 114 sworn peace officers, as well as 26 support positions. Currently, we have Probation Offices in Roseville, Auburn, and Tahoe, as well as Officers integrated throughout the County with our local police agencies and sheriff’s office. Our integral justice system role is a critical part of our public safety structure, charged with supervising and providing services to over 3000 adults granted supervision, operating a 78-bed secure Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF), supervising both informal and formal juvenile cases and making appropriate risk-based recommendations to the Placer County Superior Court to assist with the sentencing process.