Fire Official Investigated for Drug Case Link Retires : Arrest: The assistant chief was with a suspected prostitute who allegedly tried to buy cocaine from undercover police. The Fire Department drops its probe of the matter.

The San Fernando Valley’s top fire official retired Monday in the midst of an investigation of his association with a suspected prostitute who was arrested in Van Nuys as she allegedly tried to buy rock cocaine from undercover police officers.

In accepting the retirement of Assistant Fire Chief James J. Mullen, effective Monday morning, the Fire Department also dropped its internal investigation of Mullen’s role in the Sept. 6 arrest of 29-year-old Lisa Louise Andrews of Encino, who was a passenger in his car.

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.

Mullen, 53, a Ventura County resident, still faces possible misdemeanor charges from the city attorney’s office, whose review of the matter was continuing. 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, according to court records.

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 was among 17 assistant fire chiefs and three division heads. For the past 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, will eventually be filled from a list of candidates for promotion. He also 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 to appear in court Oct. 28 on an unrelated prostitution charge, is scheduled for arraignment in the drug case on Thursday in Van Nuys Municipal Court.