NEWPORT BEACH : Local Firm Picked to Recruit Police Chief

The city has decided to hire a local executive search firm to help recruit a new police chief.

Ralph Andersen & Associates, which has offices in Newport Beach as well as Sacramento and elsewhere around the state, was selected from among 11 proposals reviewed by city officials. The Civil Service Commission is expected to approve the choice at a meeting next week, and the City Council plans to authorize the expenditure at its next meeting Feb. 8.

With its $13,000 search offer, Ralph Andersen & Associates was among the cheapest alternatives presented to the city. Some proposals placed costs as high as $30,000, City Manager Kevin J. Murphy said.

Arb Campbell, the city’s fifth chief of police and a 26-year veteran of the force, was fired in December after 10 current and former female employees accused him and Capt. Anthony J. Villa of rape and sexual harassment in a lawsuit. Capt. Jim Jacobs is now serving as acting chief.

The search firm will sketch a profile of desired qualifications for the new chief and review resumes of all applicants. The firm will present a list of semifinalists and help design written and oral exams for them to take.

Two members of the Civil Service Commission, two police chiefs from other areas and a fifth person selected by Murphy will conduct the oral exam.

Applicants who score higher than 70% on both the written and oral exams will be ranked and submitted to Murphy, who will make the hiring decision, probably in May.

The new police chief’s salary will fall within a range of $84,596 to $102,827 a year.

“I anticipate attracting candidates largely from California,” Murphy said. “But there’s probably a good chance as well that we’ll get candidates from all over the United States.”