Oxnard Picks Officer From Phoenix as Police Chief : Law enforcement: Harold Hurtt, a 24-year veteran of the Arizona city’s department, will be the 1st black to lead the local force. Robert P. Owens is retiring from the post.

A 45-year-old assistant chief from Phoenix has been selected as Oxnard’s new police chief, city officials said Sunday.

Harold Hurtt, a 24-year veteran of the Phoenix police force, will replace retiring Chief Robert P. Owens, said Oxnard City Manager Vernon Hazen.

“The department has a great reputation, and I think my biggest challenge will be to see it doesn’t deteriorate in its standards,” said Hurtt, who will be the city’s first black chief.

“We’re delighted,” Hazen said. “He was the No. 1 candidate on everyone’s ticket.”

Hurtt said he did not plan to make any drastic changes in the 250-member department that serves the city with the largest population and highest crime rate in Ventura County. “There’s no call or need at this time,” he said.

The biggest obstacle he expects to face will be lack of money, Hurtt said. “It’s something all police departments are facing: being able to maintain quality services with limited resources,” he said.

The soft-spoken Hurtt helped establish community-based policing in the Phoenix department, where he worked his way up from patrol officer in 1968 to second in command. Phoenix police officials say Hurtt is well-liked and has improved the department during his tenure.

“He is a team player,” said Hazen, who hired Hurtt on Friday. “What people don’t think about is what impact a police department has on a community, and what an impact its leader has on the community.”

Hurtt was selected, after a $22,000 search by a Sacramento recruiting firm, from a field of 121 candidates. The hire does not have to be further approved by the City Council.

Some critics in the city’s black community were upset when Oxnard Assistant Chief James Latimer, who is black, was not among the finalists for the $95,000-a-year job. Latimer supporters said his 26 years in the department made him better qualified than any outsider.

Latimer will be in charge of the department between June 12, Owens’ retirement date, and July 6, when Hurtt will have moved from Phoenix. “He and I had a long conversation, and I found him to be a very professional individual,” Hurtt said. “I’m sure he feels bad that he didn’t get the job, but he will not allow feelings to get in the way of doing his job.”

Retiring Chief Owens said he didn’t think Hurtt would have any problems. “He’s a neat guy,” Owens said. “I really like him. I took him around to a number of people in the department, and they just got along very nicely.”

Owens said he planned to do some consulting work with some businesses but has no firm plans yet. “My wife has threatened me with great bodily harm if I stick around the house too much,” he said.

Hurtt said he and his wife spent the weekend looking at houses.

He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

He is a member of the Maricopa County (Ariz.) branch of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Assn. of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the Federal Prison Community Relations Board.