Manhattan Beach
The police chief of Placerville, a city of 6,700 people northeast of Sacramento, has been named chief of police in Manhattan Beach, effective Oct. 18.
Ted J. Mertens, 40, who has been chief in Placerville since 1979, succeeds Harry L. Kuhlmeyer, who is retiring after 32 years with the department. Kuhlmeyer has served as police chief since 1980.
Mertens was selected for the $58,000-a-year job from a field of 75 applicants, including four Manhattan Beach police officers, said Ralph A. Luciani, director of administrative and community services. The appointment was announced Tuesday night by City Manager David J. Thompson, who participated in the selection process along with a three-member panel made up of police and municipal officials from cities in the Los Angeles area.
Mertens has served as a police officer and sergeant in Palo Alto and as police captain in Baldwin Park. He has a degree in public administration from USC and a bachelor of arts degree in police science from San Jose State University.
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