Changing of the guard
Departures present opportunities for veterans
By Andre Coleman. 09/02/2010
The departure of a deputy police chief and two commanders has some hoping newly hired Police Chief Phil Sanchez will promote veteran African-American and Latino officers from within the department.
Over the past two months, Cmdr. Eric Mills and Deputy Chief Chris Vicino have left the department. In addition, Cmdr. Mike Korpal has told the Weekly that he plans to retire at the end of the year.
“We’re watching this like an eagle would watch a groundhog.” said NAACP Pasadena Branch President Joe Brown. “We would certainly love to see Cmdr. Daryl Qualls be given due consideration for the deputy chief’s position, not because he is African American, but because we believe he has what it takes to move the city to the next level. His name is good in police circles and most of all in this city, and he was raised here.”
Qualls and Cmdr. John Perez are the remaining commanders with the department. Typically, the department’s four commanders oversee different divisions within the department and answer to the chief and deputy chief.
Sanchez — who won the chief’s job over Vicino, who will now be serving as deputy chief in the city of Riverside — promoted Lt. Lisa Rosales, a 22-year veteran, to acting commander to help fill the void left by the departing officials.
“I think it is good to look at internal talent,” said El Centro de Accion Social Director Randy Ertll. “Now we have to look at what is there. They know the culture of the department and of the city and we need that. This is a great opportunity for some of the people there to move up.”
Sanchez said the departures were not an exodus and would not discuss candidates for the positions, primarily because he is still assessing the organization’s command structure.
“We have lost some institutional knowledge,” Sanchez told the Weekly, “but we still have some amazing talent in the department.”
According to Korpal, his retirement has nothing to do with Sanchez’s appointment.
“I will be around for four or five more months to help with the people who will be promoted. That is how it works. I think we will be in good hands under Phil’s leadership.”
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