Laguna Beach : Police Chief Purcell to Head 2 Departments

Police Chief Neil Purcell takes over the top job at the fire department as well when he assumes a new title next week--Director of Public Safety.

The city is combining the two jobs to save money and to provide the Fire Department with better administration and training, City Manager Ken Frank said.

The reorganization makes Laguna the second city in Orange County to combine the top fire and police jobs. Last month, Santa Ana named its police chief, Ray Davis, Deputy City Manager over police, fire and emergency services.

Outgoing Fire Chief Ron Adams, who has not worked since he suffered serious heart failure in his office last summer, has filed for disability retirement, Frank said. Unifying his job with Purcell’s will save the city about $60,000 in salaries, he said.

Battalion Chief Rich Dewberry, who has been acting fire chief in Adams’ absence, will be promoted to deputy fire chief, and Police Capt. James Spriene will be named deputy police chief.

Frank said the merging of the top posts is not a step toward unifying the entire Police and Fire departments, as Santa Ana city officials had discussed doing. That discussion greatly upset firefighters, however, and the departments remain separate.

“Traditionally, firefighters are concerned that cities will try to create a joint department where the police perform both duties,” Frank said. “We’re not talking about doing that. This is only a management change and will not affect duties at the line level.”

Purcell and the two deputy chiefs will receive temporary pay increases of 5% to go along with their promotions, but their permanent salaries will not be established by the City Council until June, Frank said.

Purcell, 46, currently earns $56,616 a year as police chief. He said he thought the move “will offer the Fire Department more administrative support,” and he said he had some changes in mind for the department “along the lines of their response to calls and some of their duties.” Before he makes any changes, however, Purcell said, he wants an opportunity to get to know the department better.

“All I know about the Fire Department I picked up in my 24 years as a police officer,” Purcell said. ‘I’ve got a lot to learn.’