California IN BRIEF : NEWPORT BEACH : Officials Seek to Fire Police Captain

Newport Beach officials moved to fire Police Capt. Anthony J. Villa Jr., saying a confidential internal investigation found evidence of sexual harassment allegedly involving Villa. Mayor Clarence J. Turner said that Villa, a top aide and friend of Police Chief Arb Campbell, will be served with a formal notice of termination, clearing the way for hearings to determine whether he should be fired. Villa has been sued by 10 women who are former or current Police Department employees. “Thank God, finally,” said Margaret McInnis, a records supervisor who has alleged in a civil rights case that Villa repeatedly harassed her. The lawsuit brought by McInnis and her co-workers has plunged the Police Department into one of its worst controversies in city history. All allege that they were sexually harassed by Villa and that Campbell did nothing to stop the abuse although he knew about it. Villa, 47, referred inquiries to his lawyer and city officials. His attorney, Bruce Praet, could not be reached for comment.