Newport Policeman Accused of Shoplifting

A Newport Beach police captain has been taken off active duty pending results of an internal investigation into his arrest by Santa Ana police last week in an alleged shoplifting incident, city officials said Sunday.

Newport Beach Police Capt. Richard F. Hamilton was arrested on suspicion of petty theft at 4:30 p.m. Friday for allegedly stealing a pair of pants from the Price Club in Santa Ana, Santa Ana police and Newport Beach officials said.

Hamilton was cited for the misdemeanor offense and released at the store on his own recognizance pending an investigation, Santa Ana Police Lt. Robert Helton said.

Department Notified

Helton said Hamilton’s own department was notified of the incident. All further questions were referred to Newport Beach Police Capt. Jim Gardner, who could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Neither Helton nor Newport Beach officials could confirm initial reports that the article allegedly stolen was a pair of Levis 501 jeans. Officials for the store at 3500 W. MacArthur Boulevard could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Newport Beach City Manager Robert Wynn said Hamilton, who heads the department’s administrative division, was taken off active duty Friday evening pending results of a departmental investigation expected to take “a week to 10 days.”

In the meantime, Wynn said Hamilton remains on the payroll and can continue to work on various administrative assignments at home.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Hamilton could face penalties ranging from days off without pay to dismissal, Wynn said.

“I think it is premature to say anything at this point,” Wynn said of the incident and possible disciplinary measures that could result. “All I can say is there will be some appropriate action taken when we know the facts.”

Hamilton is one of four police captains under Acting Police Chief Arb Campbell, who reportedly was out of town Sunday and unavailable for comment.

Hamilton has held the rank of captain for about 15 of his estimated 20 years or more with the Police Department, according to Wynn.

In December, 1979, Hamilton and another captain were the targets of a tap on their departmental telephones, allegedly by a disgruntled sergeant who had been reassigned from the intelligence division to patrol.

Police Chief Charles Gross, who is on leave pending his retirement in July, said he was unaware of the incident, but added: “That doesn’t sound like Rich.”