Huntington Beach Picks Cypress Chief to Head Police Dept.

The Huntington Beach City Council Monday night named the police chief of neighboring Cypress as its new top law enforcement officer.

After a nationwide search, City Administrator Paul Cook, who made the decision with the council’s approval, found a candidate in Orange County: Ronald E. Lowenberg, one of three finalists vying for the $80,000-a-year job. He is the first new chief in more than 30 years who did not rise through the ranks of the Huntington Beach Police Department.

“There was some very, very stiff competition,” Cook said in announcing the selection during the City Council meeting that came after a closed council session. “We’re very happy to have a chief.”

Lowenberg, 43, bested 54 candidates from around the country. He starts his new job Sept. 25. He will supervise a department of 213 sworn officers for a city of 187,000 residents as well as oversee the protection of the thousands of visitors who flock to the city’s eight-mile shoreline every week.

Lowenberg succeeds Grover (Bill) Payne, the department’s most veteran officer, who retired Aug. 4.

“I’m elated, to say the least, about being a part of the future,” Lowenberg told the seven-member council after his selection was announced.

Before the selection, Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Bill Martin, president of the Huntington Beach Police Officers Assn., criticized the selection process as having proceeded too quickly and said Cook’s refusal to hear suggestions from rank-and-file members of the department tarnished the relationship between the union and the city.

Union officials could not be reached for comment Monday night on Lowenberg’s selection.

Two runners-up are also police chiefs in smaller California cities: Richard M. Tefank of Pomona and William E. Eastman of Pleasanton. Neither was present when the decision was announced.

Lowenberg, who was a candidate for the job in 1987, has been the chief in Cypress since December, 1981. He began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer in Cypress in July, 1967, rising to sergeant in July, 1972. He later served as a lieutenant for the Baldwin Park force and eventually became captain in Tustin, where he stayed until 1981. In the Cypress department, he oversees a force of 52 sworn officers that patrols a city of 45,000.

According to the city charter, Cook is responsible for hiring city executives and is not required to have his choice validated by the City Council.

Union representative Martin said earlier that although he agreed with Cook that a chief should be selected from a nationwide pool, he contended that more time should have been taken to find a new chief for Huntington Beach.

“We’re not convinced the process was the best,” he said, adding that he was “absolutely” disappointed that no one from within the department had a chance to fill the vacancy.

Martin also said the new chief would need to be a motivator who can raise morale--which, he said, is low--as well as someone who can be sensitive to officers’ needs. In addition, Martin said, the chief must be familiar with the city.

“Huntington Beach can be very busy,” Martin said. “He’s going to have to be attuned to the community.”

Lowenberg, who acknowledged that he will have to make a transition in going from a smaller city to a larger one, described himself as a “high-energy communicator” who can quickly get to know the operation.