Deputy Police Chief Takes Medical Leave in Santa Ana

Santa Ana Deputy Police Chief Eugene B. Hansen, whose position would be eliminated next year under the police chief’s proposed budget, has taken a temporary disability leave from the department.

Hansen, 50, contacted Thursday at his home in Orange, said he is suffering from high blood pressure that recently was aggravated “by a protracted time period in the public view.”

Hansen served as interim police chief for six months last year after Chief Raymond C. Davis retired, and he was a semifinalist to take over the job. But he was dropped from consideration when the field was cut from seven candidates to three, and Clyde L. Cronkhite, former Los Angeles deputy police chief, was appointed chief in October.

Hansen’s disability leave began March 21. He will be examined later this month by doctors to determine if his disability is permanent. If it is, he could take a disability retirement.

“I kind of like to view it as a sabbatical while I leave my options open,” he said. “I’m waiting to see if it (high blood pressure) is correctable, and that will be a medical determination.”

The Police Department held a farewell celebration for Hansen at the Sombrero Street restaurant in downtown Santa Ana last month.

Cronkhite submitted a budget proposal in March for fiscal year 1988-89 that eliminated several management positions, including that of deputy chief.

Hansen joined the department in 1959.