Assistant Fire Chief Retires as Department Drops Inquiry : Narcotics: The question of discipline is called moot. The official was with an alleged prostitute when she was arrested on a drug charge.

The San Fernando Valley’s top fire official retired Monday after revelations that he accompanied a woman who allegedly tried to buy rock cocaine from undercover officers in Van Nuys.

In accepting the retirement of Assistant Fire Chief James J. Mullen, the Los Angeles Fire Department also dropped its internal investigation of Mullen’s role in the Sept. 6 arrest of Lisa Louise Andrews, 29, of Encino, who was a passenger in his car. Andrews also faces an unrelated prostitution charge.

Battalion Chief Dean Cathey, a department spokesman, said the administrative inquiry was dropped because the prospect of disciplinary action against Mullen became moot once he was no longer an employee. Cathey also said it was the first time that he knew of that a city fire official had retired amid scandal.

Mullen, 53, an eastern Ventura County resident, still faces possible misdemeanor charges by the city attorney’s office, whose review of the matter continued Monday.

Police have denied that Mullen received any special treatment, saying he was initially released when Andrews was arrested because he did not hand undercover officers any money. Andrews, on the other hand, passed $20 to the officers, court records show.

Mullen could not be reached for comment Monday.

As a 31-year department veteran, he is eligible to draw a pension equal to 70% of his salary last year, which Cathey said was in the range of $84,500 to $94,500.

Mullen, who joined the department as a rookie firefighter, was among 17 assistant fire chiefs and three geographical division heads. For the last three years, since becoming an assistant chief, he supervised about 250 firefighters serving the Valley. He also worked as chief of planning and was a “very regular and heavy participant in the management of this department,” Cathey said.

Fire Chief Donald Manning was out of town Monday and unavailable for comment.

Mullen’s immediate supervisor, Deputy Chief Don Anthony, also could not be reached.

Cathey said Mullen’s job, a civil service position, eventually will be filled from a list of promotion candidates. He said the replacement will require special City Council approval because of a city hiring freeze. In the meantime, Mullen’s duties will be covered by other assistant chiefs on overtime.

Andrews, who is facing an unrelated prostitution charge, is scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Van Nuys Municipal Court in the Sept. 6 incident involving Mullen.