Newport Beach Police Chief Says He’ll Retire : Law enforcement: Arb Campbell, accused in lawsuit of condoning sexual harassment, plans to leave in May.

Embattled Police Chief Arb Campbell, accused in a lawsuit by four current and former female employees of condoning sexual harassment by one of his chief assistants, announced his retirement Wednesday, effective May 15.

City Manager Kevin J. Murphy and several City Council members said they believe that the resignation is unrelated to the lawsuit, although one acknowledged surprise at the timing of his announcement.

“I’ll miss him as a police officer,” said Councilwoman Evelyn R. Hart. “I am not that suspicious about it, but the timing does not seem like the perfect time. I am surprised he would do this at this time.”

In discussing his future plans two months ago, Murphy said, Campbell talked of putting in enough time--28 years--to receive maximum retirement benefits.

“We’d sat down and talked about issues, and in the course of that conversation, he had plans to stay perhaps a year or two,” Murphy said Wednesday. “Two weeks ago we met again and discussed his goals, and he indicated regardless of the investigation . . . he was looking at retirement next year. And he asked how much lead time I would need to recruit someone else.”

Campbell could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But in his letter dated and delivered to Murphy Wednesday morning, Campbell wrote: “This is to notify you of my intent to retire as chief of police on May 15, 1993. The purpose of this advance notice is to allow the city sufficient time to recruit and select a new chief of police.

“I would like to express my gratitude to other members of our city government, the personnel of the Newport Beach Police Department and the fine citizens of Newport Beach for their continued support throughout my 27 years of employment with this city,” he concluded.

City personnel officials said Campbell, 53, will receive about 75% of his present annual salary of $102,370 if he retires in May.

Campbell’s wife, Lavonne, will evidently remain in her job as a detective in the juvenile crimes section. It was unclear what other plans the couple, who share a bay view home on the tip of the Balboa Peninsula, may have.

Sgt. Andy Gonis, a Police Department spokesman, said: “We wish him the best, and he is looking forward to his retirement, just like anybody else would. I think his plan right now is to just enjoy himself.”

On Sept. 24, three current Police Department female employees and one former female employee filed a lawsuit against the City of Newport Beach, Campbell and one of Campbell’s top assistants, Capt. Anthony Villa, with whom he owns property in Riverside County.

The women charged Villa with sexual harassment on and off the job and with making sexual overtures and suggestive remarks that included a graphic description of a pornographic movie he had seen. The lawsuit alleges that Campbell condoned the harassment and that the department is “a hotbed of sexually offensive conduct at the top levels of the command structure.”

Campbell and Villa have declined comment, but their attorney has said they deny the charges, casting the plaintiffs as disgruntled employees who were rightfully disciplined or fired.

After the lawsuit was filed, Villa was transferred from the patrol division to administration as part of what the department described as a routine rotation of its four captains.

Suing are communications supervisor Mary Jane Ruetz, 43; records supervisor Margaret McInnis, 39; Officer Cheryl Vlacilek, 28, and fired Officer Rochell Maier.

Ruetz took a disability leave for what she said was stress from the sexual harassment, and McInnis has gone on disability amid the controversy. Maier, an Army Reserve captain and commander of her helicopter company, is appealing her firing.

Three of the women charge in the lawsuit that after they rejected Villa’s advances and formally complained, they were disciplined and fired on trumped up charges. Two of them got their jobs back after the city Civil Service Commission overturned their dismissals.

Legal representatives for the women have said they were inundated with calls after the lawsuit was filed and expect two more plaintiffs to join the case.

“I think the subject of additional plaintiffs will come up” today, Steven R. Pingel, the Seal Beach attorney who filed the four women’s lawsuit, said Wednesday. “To me it’s not just coincidence when (Campbell) chooses to announce his retirement. He has a good idea of what’s in the lawsuit and what’s to come in the lawsuit. After all, he knows what he’s done wrong.

“I’m very happy that my clients and I have been able to make a significant contribution to Chief Campbell’s retirement plans.”

In formally advising City Manager Murphy of their allegations, the four women questioned how an internal affairs sergeant could possibly conduct a fair and thorough investigation of his captain and chief and demanded that the city arrange for an outside investigation.

Murphy hired Los Angeles lawyer Harold A. Bridges to conduct an independent review of the charges. That investigation has been stymied, Murphy said, because the women have refused to tell their story to Bridges. The women, however, claim that they distrust the city investigation because the city is paying for it and stands to suffer financially were it to lose the lawsuit.

The son of a Virginia coal miner, Campbell started his law enforcement career at the Los Angeles Police Department in 1961. He left in 1966 to join the Newport Beach Police Department, where he has steadily risen through the ranks. He has four daughters by an earlier marriage.

In April, 1986, Campbell became chief, succeeding Charles (Pete) Gross, who retired in the wake of charges that his department was overly aggressive and had one of the highest complaint rates in county law enforcement. At the time, the city faced more than 100 lawsuits and claims for damages alleging excessive use of force, harassment of ethnic minorities and other civil rights violations.

Campbell was hired as a reformer: to rein in the department, slow the flow of complaints and improve the public image of his officers. He is credited with adopting the recommendations of a critical study of the department by the League of California Cities, including a professional standards unit to look into allegations of misconduct.

“I think he has done an outstanding job,” Councilman John C. Cox Jr. said.”He is well liked in the community, he has been constructive and been responsive to community interests. He took over when we were having some tough times and got to the bottom of the problems, and the community has been very appreciative of his efforts.

“This looks like it is tied to the current event, but being in that kind of job can take its toll no matter what the issue is. People sometimes decide to give it up. Dealing in public service is a tough job.”

One city official who requested anonymity said: “I think he just didn’t need the problems. He just doesn’t want to deal with this any longer.”

Councilman Clarence J. Turner said he was aware of Campbell’s general interest in retirement but “I have no idea why he decided to do this.”

Councilwoman Hart said: “I was satisfied with him as chief. He was very professional and had a lot of respect in the community. Outside of the community, I would always hear people say, ‘You’ve got a good chief there.’ ”