San Juan Capistrano Gets Police Chief : Law enforcement: O.C. Sheriff’s Lt. Paul Sullivan is named chief of police services for the city.

Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Paul Sullivan, a 20-year veteran of the department, has been named chief of police services for the city of San Juan Capistrano, the first time the city has had its own chief since the days of the local constable in the late 1950s.

“Lt. Sullivan’s experience is exceptionally well suited to confront the law enforcement challenges our community faces,” City Manager George Scarborough said Monday in announcing the appointment.

Sullivan has a long record of experience in south Orange County, with more than 12 years of patrol and investigative duty in the cities of Mission Viejo, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and Lake Forest, officials said.

During his career with the department, he has served four years as supervisor of the Sheriff’s Career Criminal Apprehension Team, was the first supervisor of the Gang Suppression Unit, and was instrumental in writing the operational procedures for the Sheriff’s Department gang suppression program for the cities of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and Laguna Niguel.

Sullivan was promoted to lieutenant in March, 1991. While he will remain a lieutenant, he will serve as the chief of police services for the city.

He replaces Lt. Dan Martini, who has served as chief of police services for San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point, since 1989. Martini will be reassigned to become the Sheriff Department’s press relations lieutenant, officials said.

Sullivan and his family have lived in south Orange County since 1973. He will assume his duties with the city on Oct. 20.

In September, the City Council voted to pay the Sheriff’s Department $116,704 a year for a lieutenant to serve as the chief of police. Unlike the past four years, when the city shared an officer with Dana Point, the lieutenant’s duties will be dedicated strictly to the city.