P.V. Estates Chooses Interim Police Chief

Former Anaheim Police Chief Jimmie Kennedy, 54, has been named interim chief of the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department.

Kennedy, who retired last month after 29 years with the Anaheim department, was hired by the City Council on Friday. He replaces veteran Capt. Mike Tracy, who has been acting chief since Chief Monte Newman took a medical leave in July because of hypertension. Newman retired from the force last week.

Kennedy, who lives in Yorba Linda, will lead the department for the next six to nine months while the city searches for a permanent chief. Kennedy will not be eligible for the permanent position, Mayor Edward Ritscher said, but other members of the department will be, including Tracy, who has been considered a leading contender for the job.

Ritscher said the council decided to hire an interim chief from outside the department “to give us a leg up on looking at how we’re operating and to provide additional talents and skills to the police department. Now is the opportune time between chiefs to do this.”

19-Year Veteran

Reacting to the decision, Tracy, 44, and a 19-year member of the department, said: “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.”

“I don’t know if the city realizes it or not, but I have been managing the police department for the past six months,” Tracy said.

Of Kennedy, Tracy said: “I respect his professionalism, his honored career and his highly respected department in Orange County. I think I can speak for the whole department when I say they have respect for Chief Kennedy.”

Kennedy’s selection was made with the assistance of Paul Whisenand, professor of police administration at Cal State Long Beach. Whisenand, a principal in a personnel firm specializing in police science consulting, recommended that the city hire an interim chief and then conduct a full-scale search for a permanent chief.

Kennedy’s responsibilities as interim chief include developing a job description for a permanent chief. His pay has not been worked out, city officials said. Newman received $53,880 a year.