Former Anaheim Police Chief, City Councilman Dies : Obituary: Mark A. Stephenson spent 42 years on the force, then became an elected official in the early 1970s. He was 88.

Mark A. Stephenson, a former city councilman and Anaheim police chief who dedicated nearly half his life to law enforcement, has died. He was 88.

Stephenson died Sunday night at Anaheim Memorial Hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia and other medical complications stemming from bone cancer, authorities said Monday.

The Iowa native was a highly regarded lawman in the county, especially in his own city where officials last year dedicated the new multimillion-dollar police headquarters in his honor.

During his 42 years on the force, Stephenson saw the department grow from 14 officers to nearly 300.

“He was unquestionably a father figure here,” said Police Capt. Randy Gaston, who served under Stephenson. “He was a unique individual. A lot of us were awed by the amount of time he spent with the department and that he was still very in tune with the operations of the department.”

Stephenson was 23 when he moved from Iowa to Southern California to work in the oil fields of Long Beach and Huntington Beach.

After four years there, he joined the Anaheim Police Department, working first as a replacement officer for vacationing officers and those on sick leave.

Less than a year later, he became a full-time officer, earning $150 a month. At that time, Anaheim’s only patrol vehicle was a 1925 Dodge touring car. The downtown area was regularly patrolled by two officers on foot.

In 1942, then-Sgt. Stephenson enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He returned to Anaheim after the war and was appointed deputy chief. When the chief retired in 1946, Stephenson filled the post and took control of the 19-officer department.

Under Stephenson, the department kept pace with the city’s tremendous growth sparked by the development of Disneyland, Anaheim Stadium and the Anaheim Convention Center.

“The hallmark of his career was the steady administration he gave the department,” Gaston said. “He put a strong emphasis on training and was very concerned that his officers be courteous.”

Stephenson retired on Aug. 1, 1969, after the department had grown to 288 officers.

At that time, a Los Angeles Times editorial hailed Stephenson as not only “a fine officer, but a man who dedicated his life to the service of others.”

His retirement didn’t last long, however. In 1970, Stephenson was elected to the Anaheim City Council for a four-year term.

In recent years, Stephenson was battling medical problems associated with bone cancer.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Beulah, his son, David, and three grandchildren.

A viewing will be held between 4 and 8 p.m. Tuesday at Backs-Kaulbars Baggott & Schacht, 1617 W. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim. Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church of Anaheim, 520 W. South St. in Anaheim.

A procession will follow to the Fairhaven Memorial Park at 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave. in Santa Ana.