West Covina : Police Chief Appointed

A 26-year veteran of the Police Department will soon become the city’s top cop.

Following a two-month evaluation of the police department’s three commanders, City Manager Jim Starbird announced Thursday that he has chosen Police Cmdr. John T. Distelrath as the new police chief, effective Jan. 1.

Starbird, who is responsible for hiring department heads, chose not to open the selection process to candidates outside the city. The position pays up to $95,472, but Distelrath’s exact salary was not available Thursday.

Distelrath will replace Chief Ronald E. Holmes, who will retire at the end of the month after a 32-year career in the city.

Distelrath, who will lead a department of more than 100 officers, is commander of the Police Department’s investigative division, which is responsible for detectives, gang enforcement, and narcotic investigations.

West Covina officials said Distelrath rose steadily through the ranks from cadet to commander and served in each of the department’s three divisions. He has developed several special enforcement programs, including one to fight student truancy and another to allow citizens to call police with crime tips.

Distelrath could not be reached for comment.

A father of five, Distelrath is manager of a youth baseball team and is a member of the Claremont Little League Board of Directors. A past president of the West Covina Rotary Club, he visits local elementary schools in his spare time in order to read to students.