New Police ‘Chief’ Says Job Suits Him Fine : Law enforcement: San Clemente’s support for police prompted Sheriff’s Lt. Tom Davis to consider position.

In all his years in law enforcement, Sheriff’s Lt. Tom Davis rarely has worn a suit and tie to work.

That will change when Davis becomes the top law enforcement officer in San Clemente, as this community of 43,000 begins contracting for services with the Sheriff’s Department in July.

It’s a change, tie and all, that Davis said he considered only when he saw the community rally around its 65-year-old Police Department in the months before the City Council made the difficult, cost-saving decision to disband it and hire the Sheriff’s Department.

“The citizens down here are very supportive of the Police Department,” Davis, 39, said. “I thought that was fantastic. You don’t see that anywhere else right now.

“All I want to know is how I keep that. The support is already here. I just want to make sure I don’t do anything to destroy it.”

But those who have worked with Davis in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Regional Narcotics Suppression Program say his straightforward and personable manner will serve him well here.

“They’re engaged and they’re about to fall in love,” said Capt. Tim Simon, who has known Davis for years. “I believe Tom Davis and that community will find each other very comfortable, and that relationship will make this transition extremely easy.”

After months of emotional debate, the City Council voted, 4-1, in February to hire the Sheriff’s Department, saving the city about $2.1 million in the first year alone. The city, with a $20-million budget, faces a $6-million shortfall.

Davis’ officers and employees will be virtually the same as the city police force, as almost all have been hired by the Sheriff’s Department and have chosen to stay in San Clemente. The previous chief, Michael Sorg, who declined to apply for the new job, will transfer to a city administrative job that has yet to be announced.

The vote to go with the Sheriff’s Department drew strong reaction. In March, angry residents launched a recall drive against the four council members who voted for the change. The group is also trying to get a voter initiative on the ballot that would overturn the council’s decision.

Still, the city is targeting July 1 for the change in police powers, and the City Council is set to approve the final sheriff’s contract on Wednesday.

Davis said he realizes he has a tough job ahead, and that he’s no expert in city politics. “This is all going to be new for me,” he said. “I’m going to walk slow. I’m going to walk on eggshells.”

Davis started his law enforcement career with the Sheriff’s Department in 1975 at age 21, working in the jail, patrol and investigations divisions before being promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant.

Since 1986, Davis has been working with the countywide Narcotics Suppression Program, which investigates complicated narcotics cases, often coordinating with national and international law enforcement agencies.

Among other things, he is credited with securing a $1.5-million federal grant for the program, which includes 70 officers from every law enforcement agency in the county.

“It’s very highly regarded, and he’s in large part responsible for the program’s success,” San Clemente City Manager Michael W. Parness said.

But it was only through a class scheduling problem at Cal State Fullerton that Davis ended up in law enforcement to begin with. Having just transferred from Cypress College to get a degree in business, Davis found all the business classes full.

To bide his time, he signed up for some courses in criminal justice, a field of study that had just been established that year and had plenty of vacancies.

“As I sat in the classes, I got interested,” he said. “It just continued on from that.”

Davis will join the transition team in San Clemente today.The new job will not include a raise in his $71,000 annual salary.

For now, Davis plans to meet with residents and community groups to learn what they want from their police force.

“Things do change,” he said. “How you deal with it is what we’re all about.”

He and his wife of 20 years, Lorra, and their three children also are looking for a house in San Clemente.

Sheriff Brad Gates said he was confident the city would be happy with Davis.

“Tom Davis is an exceptional person. He’s done a tremendous job for us on any assignment we’ve had for him,” Gates said. “He’s the kind of guy who can come in and find out what the problems are, if there are any, communicate clearly, and follow up and get back to people.”