NEWPORT BEACH : Police Chief Sworn In; Promises Healing

Amid the media attention that has haunted the Police Department for nearly a year over a sexual harassment scandal, Robert J. McDonell was sworn in Monday morning as the city’s new police chief, promising to heal the beleaguered department.

Calling his new post “the kind of job most police chiefs would dream of doing,” McDonell, 52, told the crowd of about 100 city employees and civic leaders that he immediately would confront the internal problems of the department as well as external challenges from the increasing crime in Newport Beach and throughout Orange County.

“I look upon this day as the beginning of a new chapter in my life and that of my family,” said McDonell, dressed in his formal uniform, complete with the chief’s gold stars on the collar. “Although we’ve moved on to a new set of challenges and adventures in our lives, that does not mean we’ve not learned from our past experiences. . . . It just means life goes on. I see the same analogy applying to the Newport Beach Police Department.

“I want to help the organization close out the unpleasantness . . . and move on to new plateaus, learning from our mistakes and building on our successes.”

McDonell, a 25-year veteran of law enforcement who has been chief in Woodland, Calif., near Sacramento, since 1986, replaces former chief Arb Campbell, who--along with his top deputy, former Capt. Anthony Villa--was sued for sexual harassment last fall by 10 current and former female employees.

The lawsuit describes the department as “a hotbed of sexually offensive conduct” and accuses Campbell of knowingly condoning Villa’s lewd behavior. A dispatcher also contends in the lawsuit that the two men raped her at a police party in 1981. Campbell and Villa were fired this winter, then rehired and immediately retired in June. The lawsuit is still pending.

At Monday morning’s swearing-in, City Manager Kevin J. Murphy said McDonell is the ideal person to help the department recover from the negative publicity and internal division the lawsuit has caused.

“In the past, Newport Beach has had a strong partnership with businesses and people in the community,” Murphy said. “I know in the future, under Bob’s leadership, that partnership will grow.”

With their sons, 12-year-old Ryan and Sean, 8, looking on in the front row, McDonell’s wife, Lana, pinned the new chief’s badge on his chest after he took an oath of office.

McDonell, who will earn $100,000 a year, spent Monday talking with the city manager and moving into the chief’s office. He said he would try to talk one on one with each of the department’s 249 employees before making any major policy changes or decisions.

“The worst thing you can do is to come in and immediately implement change before you know the people,” he said in an interview after the ceremony.

He added: “Any chief coming into any organization is on the hot seat,” he said. “This one might be a little warmer than normal, but it’s not insurmountable.”