Kolender to Head California Youth Authority
Former San Diego Police Chief Bill Kolender was appointed director of the California Youth Authority Tuesday by Gov. Pete Wilson.
Kolender, a Republican who was police chief from 1975 to 1988, is now assistant to the publisher at the San Diego Union and Tribune Publishing Co. and a member of the Community Colleges Board of Governors.
“He will insist on promoting public safety as his paramount concern and will afford real and fair opportunity to youths so they can be rehabilitated and lead productive lives,” said Wilson. “He is fair but firm.”
Kolender, 56, replaces B.T. Collins, who resigned in July to run for the Assembly. The appointment to the post, which pays $95,052 a year, is subject to Senate confirmation.
Wilson said Kolender is ideally suited to run the CYA, which operates juvenile prisons, because he has “a long and distinguished record, both in crime prevention and volunteer work on behalf of young people.”
Kolender joined the San Diego Police Department in 1956 and worked his way up to chief.
He has been a member of the community college governing board since 1984. Kolender and his wife have four children.
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