Post by red on Jul 17, 2006 7:43:28 GMT -8
www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_4060966
Garcia ascends to Azusa chief
By Ruby Gonzales Staff Writer
AZUSA - After holding down the fort for 16 months, Robert Garcia will officially take over the reins of the Police Department today.
A 24-year veteran of the department, Garcia is the first Latino police chief in its 93-year history. He has been with the department his entire career, and his rise through the ranks is viewed as a plus by colleagues, officers and city officials.
The city will swear in Garcia today along with a new captain, Gene Street, a new lieutenant, Steve Hunt, and a new sergeant, Jerry Arnold at Azusa City Hall.
Garcia, 45, succeeds Chief King Davis who went on sick leave February 2005 and later took a disability retirement.
The city didn't look for applicants outside the department.
"I think he is a great choice for the city and I think he will do well," said Azusa City Manager Fran Delach. "As far as I can tell, the council and the employees support him 100 percent."
Garcia, who took the post July 1, will be paid $148,440 a year and head a department budgeted for 61 sworn officers but has 57.
"In my case, I feel I can do a good job. I'm loyal to the city," Garcia said. "This community has treated me well and I'm grateful for that."
The city is a good place to be, said Garcia, who called himself "a low-key guy in a high-profile job."
"Azusa has a sense of history," he said. "People come to Azusa, put down roots and stay."
His main issues will be staffing and continuing to provide services, and Garcia said the department must be staffed to meet the anticipated population growth from the new Rosedale housing development and Azusa Pacific University's planned expansion.
"The needs of many more people will impact us. We need to be ahead of the curve," he said.
In the next eight to 10 years, Garcia said they are looking to add eight officers.
Like other police departments, Azusa has community policing programs. The department divides the city into three sections called service areas. Residents can call or send e-mail with their concerns to the lieutenant who heads their service area. Garcia said they expect to add a fourth service area once Rosedale is completed.
He wants to keep refining this program.
"Police officers are not an occupying army, they are part of the community," Garcia said.
Garcia isn't stepping into unknown territory with his new job.
When Chief John Broderick resigned in August 1999 after allegations surfaced of sexual misconduct with a police dispatcher at an off-duty party, the city turned to Garcia while they looked for a new chief. He ran the department until Davis, formerly police chief in Sierra Madre, was hired in 2000.
Garcia said he had family issues then and it wasn't the right time to apply for the chief's job.
Five years later, the city again asked Garcia to be acting, then interim, chief when Davis went on sick leave.
When the chief's job became available, Garcia said the timing was right since his son was older, and he had the support of the council and his family.
"This time, he was ready for the promotion and well deserving of it," said Mayor Diane Chagnon.
"He's able to keep the department running and on track. ... He's got a clean record, is a man of integrity. Why would we go and look somewhere else?"
Colleagues wanted Garcia as chief five years ago, said Officer Peter Hoh, president of the Azusa Police Officers Association.
"There's a 100 percent support behind him," Hoh said.
Garcia is homegrown, he said, and having risen through the ranks understands officers' needs.
"He's straightforward, frank and honest. Like I said, we're excited and looking forward to having stability in the department after King Davis' regime," Hoh said.
La Verne police Chief Scott Pickwith, who also rose through the ranks to head a department, said it's a plus to grow with an agency.
Pickwith said knowing a police departments' culture from the ground up gives extra insight.
"I think Azusa is getting a well-qualified police chief. Bob has the best interest of the department and city in mind," Pickwith said.
Garcia has never lived farther than 10 miles from the station. He also has local roots, spending part of his childhood in West Covina. He graduated with a degree in political science/public administration from Cal Poly Pomona and earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of La Verne.
He has lived in La Verne for 35 years, now with his wife, Susan, and his 10-year-old son, Grant. Susan Garcia is a teacher at Bonita Unified School District.
Garcia ascends to Azusa chief
By Ruby Gonzales Staff Writer
AZUSA - After holding down the fort for 16 months, Robert Garcia will officially take over the reins of the Police Department today.
A 24-year veteran of the department, Garcia is the first Latino police chief in its 93-year history. He has been with the department his entire career, and his rise through the ranks is viewed as a plus by colleagues, officers and city officials.
The city will swear in Garcia today along with a new captain, Gene Street, a new lieutenant, Steve Hunt, and a new sergeant, Jerry Arnold at Azusa City Hall.
Garcia, 45, succeeds Chief King Davis who went on sick leave February 2005 and later took a disability retirement.
The city didn't look for applicants outside the department.
"I think he is a great choice for the city and I think he will do well," said Azusa City Manager Fran Delach. "As far as I can tell, the council and the employees support him 100 percent."
Garcia, who took the post July 1, will be paid $148,440 a year and head a department budgeted for 61 sworn officers but has 57.
"In my case, I feel I can do a good job. I'm loyal to the city," Garcia said. "This community has treated me well and I'm grateful for that."
The city is a good place to be, said Garcia, who called himself "a low-key guy in a high-profile job."
"Azusa has a sense of history," he said. "People come to Azusa, put down roots and stay."
His main issues will be staffing and continuing to provide services, and Garcia said the department must be staffed to meet the anticipated population growth from the new Rosedale housing development and Azusa Pacific University's planned expansion.
"The needs of many more people will impact us. We need to be ahead of the curve," he said.
In the next eight to 10 years, Garcia said they are looking to add eight officers.
Like other police departments, Azusa has community policing programs. The department divides the city into three sections called service areas. Residents can call or send e-mail with their concerns to the lieutenant who heads their service area. Garcia said they expect to add a fourth service area once Rosedale is completed.
He wants to keep refining this program.
"Police officers are not an occupying army, they are part of the community," Garcia said.
Garcia isn't stepping into unknown territory with his new job.
When Chief John Broderick resigned in August 1999 after allegations surfaced of sexual misconduct with a police dispatcher at an off-duty party, the city turned to Garcia while they looked for a new chief. He ran the department until Davis, formerly police chief in Sierra Madre, was hired in 2000.
Garcia said he had family issues then and it wasn't the right time to apply for the chief's job.
Five years later, the city again asked Garcia to be acting, then interim, chief when Davis went on sick leave.
When the chief's job became available, Garcia said the timing was right since his son was older, and he had the support of the council and his family.
"This time, he was ready for the promotion and well deserving of it," said Mayor Diane Chagnon.
"He's able to keep the department running and on track. ... He's got a clean record, is a man of integrity. Why would we go and look somewhere else?"
Colleagues wanted Garcia as chief five years ago, said Officer Peter Hoh, president of the Azusa Police Officers Association.
"There's a 100 percent support behind him," Hoh said.
Garcia is homegrown, he said, and having risen through the ranks understands officers' needs.
"He's straightforward, frank and honest. Like I said, we're excited and looking forward to having stability in the department after King Davis' regime," Hoh said.
La Verne police Chief Scott Pickwith, who also rose through the ranks to head a department, said it's a plus to grow with an agency.
Pickwith said knowing a police departments' culture from the ground up gives extra insight.
"I think Azusa is getting a well-qualified police chief. Bob has the best interest of the department and city in mind," Pickwith said.
Garcia has never lived farther than 10 miles from the station. He also has local roots, spending part of his childhood in West Covina. He graduated with a degree in political science/public administration from Cal Poly Pomona and earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of La Verne.
He has lived in La Verne for 35 years, now with his wife, Susan, and his 10-year-old son, Grant. Susan Garcia is a teacher at Bonita Unified School District.