City Manager Cuts Field of Police Chief Candidates to 3
The field of candidates seeking to be Pasadena’s next police chief has been cut to three after City Manager Phil Hawkey eliminated retired San Diego Police Chief Bob Burgreen from the race, city officials said.
Still in the running are the Pasadena Police Department’s executive commander, Gary Bennett; Santa Monica Police Capt. Barney Melekian and Modesto Police Chief Paul Jefferson, officials said. Jefferson is a former Los Angeles Police Department captain.
Burgreen was San Diego’s police chief for five years until 1993. However, he had been tainted by a written reprimand that he received as assistant chief for using city video equipment to film fishing trips and for helping the then-chief fix parking tickets.
Hawkey spent last Friday in Modesto with Jefferson, who was a rising LAPD star until he was criticized for his role as the ranking official in the LAPD’s South Bureau when the 1992 riots erupted and truck driver Reginald O. Denny was beaten.
Hawkey expects to choose the new police chief as early as the end of this week after spending today in Santa Monica with Melekian, said Robert Person, assistant to the city manager.
Councilman William E. Thomson Jr., who has discussed the selection with Hawkey, said, “At this point, Melekian seems to be the top candidate.”
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