Top Candidate for Police Chief to Retire Instead
The effort to recruit a new police chief was dealt a setback this week when a veteran police sergeant favored to get the job decided to retire instead.
Sgt. Chris Christensen, a 32-year police officer in Sierra Madre, informed City Manager John Davidson that he will retire from the department in December. Christensen will still assume the role of interim police chief Sept. 29.
“It was a surprise to me,” Davidson said. “He would have been a candidate for police chief and possibly the successful candidate.”
So far 10 law enforcement officers have applied for the position but Davidson said he expects that number to triple by the Oct. 3 application deadline.
The police chief oversees 14 sworn police officers and would be paid $66,000 plus benefits. In surrounding cities, a senior police officer with overtime can earn similar amounts and sergeants can regularly earn more.
Davidson said he is well aware that the chief’s salary is comparatively low, but added that Sierra Madre is among the safest cities in Los Angeles County.
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