HAWAIIAN GARDENS : McKinney Becomes City’s 1st Police Chief

Walter McKinney, a 15-year lawman, was sworn in Tuesday as the city’ first police chief.

McKinney, 33, will oversee the city’s new 20-officer police force, which is tentatively scheduled to take over law enforcement duties from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department next month.

“I’m honored to be the city’s first police chief and to be able to build (the police department) from the ground up,” he said after being given the oath of office by Mayor Kathleen Navejas. “It’s like a dream come true.”

The City Council approved the switch to its own Police Department in September, and is getting ready to levy a 6% utility tax to pay for it. The council will hold an informational meeting on the tax Jan. 20 and is scheduled to vote on the tax after a public hearing Feb. 14.

McKinney joined the city in April as director of community safety. His duties included serving as liaison to the county sheriff’s and fire departments and overseeing the enforcement of the city’s parking laws and building codes.

He spent the previous 12 years with the city of Los Angeles Housing Authority Police, working his way up from officer to lieutenant. Before that, he was a police officer for the Los Angeles Department of Airports for 1 1/2 years and the city of Glendale for six months.