A Glorious Day For A Birthday Party!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COSTA MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT...
Temperatures in the mid-80s greeted visitors Sunday, December 15, 2013 the Costa Mesa Police Department, as part of the city-wide 60th Anniversary Celebration, celebrated its 60th Birthday with a community party at Police Headquarters on Fair Drive.

 (More than 3 dozen proud retirees attended the party)

A PERFECT DAY FOR A PARTY
Several hundred visitors enjoyed the warm weather and the festivities for five hours in the middle of the day.  I stayed for about half of that time and was very impressed with the preparations.  Food and drink was available, a raffle for helicopter rides was held in exchange for toys for children and tours of the police facilities were conducted throughout the afternoon.

 (Chiefs Dave Snowden, Roger Neth and Tom Gazsi)

GAZSI AT THE CONTROLS
Police Chief Tom Gazsi kicked off the official program and introduced several former Chiefs of Police of the department who were in attendance.  Before that part of the program, though, CMPD staffer Jeanette Chervony sang the National Anthem as the color guard presented the colors for the event.

 

 (Jeanette Chervony belts out the National Anthem)

ROGER STILL HAS IT
Former Police Chief Roger Neth - the first officer hired and our second chief - gave us a fascinating history lesson about the CMPD.  We learned that, over the years, the CMPD has been an innovative and highly-regarded law enforcement agency.  Neth ticked off the many accomplishments - among them Community-Oriented Policing and the A.B.L.E. helicopter program, which was the benchmark after which all other municipal helicopter programs were modeled.  It was great to see Chief Neth again, and to hear those inspirational stories.

SNOWDEN SPEAKS
His successor, former Chief Dave Snowden - who spent more than seventeen years in that role before moving to Beverly Hills a decade ago - stepped up and expanded on some of the stories Neth told us.  He still considers himself part of the CMPD family and attends many events in our city when possible.  He rejoiced in the time he spent as our Police Chief, and bemoaned the difficult times the CMPD now faces, with the loss of A.B.L.E. and the diminished staffing levels.

STAVELEY RETURNED, TOO
Former Interim Chief Steve Staveley, a man who has led many law enforcement agencies over a more than 40 year career, was also on the stage and spoke briefly.  He was the interim Chief twice, filling in the gaps created by the departure of former Chiefs John Hensley and Chris Shawkey, neither of whom were in attendance yesterday.  Staveley held things together during some very difficult times.

THE CURRENT STATUS
Chief Gazsi spoke of the current condition of the CMPD, expressing his gratitude to the men and women of the department for their tireless efforts and spoke of the fact that they are recruiting as fast as is possible and still maintain the high standards established during the tours of the previous chiefs.  There are some members of the City Council who seem to think hiring police officers should be just like finding a gardener.  Such is the condition of the elected leadership in our city these days.

 (New recruits, eager to complete their training)

(Serving with a smile)

 (Kelly Vucinic and Valerie Sorenson keeping things rolling) 

CARS

There were many interesting displays available for the public to inspect.  There were two of our newest police cars plus the car used in the television program Adam-12.

SWAT
Members of the SWAT team were present, along with many of their weapons.  After I left they gave a demonstration of tactics for the crowd at that time.

MISSING A.B.L.E.
There was a helicopter on display on the helipad - a former CMPD Hughes 500D model that we sold to the Hawthorne Police Department when A.B.L.E. upgraded to the Eurocopters.  Former A.B.L.E. pilot Ryan Walker flew it here for the event and is shown chatting with retired CMPD Captain, current CMPD Chaplain and trustee of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Dave Brooks.  

COPS AND DONUTS
An amusing side note - the donut truck from Sidecar Donuts on East 17th Street was at the event providing free donuts to visitors (and officers, too.)  Shown here is former councilman, current Costa Mesa Sanitary District Director and Chairman of the 60th Anniversary Celebration, Mike Scheafer, with retired legendary CMPD School Resource Officer, Jess Gilman.

CONTINUING THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
The Costa Mesa Police Department has a proud, 60-year-old tradition of law enforcement innovation and excellence.  As I spoke with several of the men and women who protect and serve us today I'm convinced that Chief Gazsi and his team will continue this tradition if provided the resources.  I was very proud to be a Costa Mesan today.

(Kelly Vucinic, Captain Rob Sharpnack and Lt. Mark Manley)

(Captain Les Gogerty and Sergeant Phil Myers)

(Chief Tom Gazsi)

A Bittersweet Morning At City Hall

PASSING THE BADGE
This morning more than 100 family, co-workers and friends (that may be redundant) gathered in the City Council Chambers at City Hall for the "passing of the badge" ceremony for retiring legendary School Resource Officer, Jess Gilman.  I'm sure the event turned out to be everything Jess hoped for and more.

GAZSI AS MC
Police Chief Tom Gazsi, shown here with former Chief Dave Snowden, was the master of ceremonies and recounted Jess' long and illustrious career.  He became a police officer in Baldwin Park - hired by then-chief Snowden.  When Snowden moved to Costa Mesa Jess followed him to our city, where he served in a variety of policing roles.  His biggest impact, though, has been the last thirteen years as a School Resource Officer.

 CURRENT HONCHOS
In addition to Gazsi honoring Gilman, City CEO Tom Hatch, Newport Mesa Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Navarro, Estancia High School Principal Kirk Bauermeister and the aforementioned Snowden also spoke in glowing terms about Jess' impact on our community.

 SLIDE SHOW WAS A HOOT
In addition to the speakers a short, very funny, slide show was presented to the audience that covered his career from beginning to the end.

FAMILIAR FACES
I'm sure I'll miss someone, but among the dignitaries attending the ceremony were retired City Manager, Allan Roeder - looking like retirement agrees with him - School District Trustees Katrina Foley, Dave Brooks and Walt Davenport, Chamber of Commerce honcho Ed Fawcett and many of Jess' Costa Mesa Police Department co-workers.  I also met several people who had worked with Jess before his tour in Costa Mesa.  Clearly, he's a man with many friends.

POLICE FAMILIES SUFFER
As the speakers and Jess recounted stories I noticed many in the audience dabbing their eyes with tissue... it was a very emotional morning.  For me, the most moving part was when Jess - near the end of his speech - looked down at his children sitting in the front row and apologized to them for not being with them as much as he and they would have liked as they were growing up.  I know the toll being a police officer can take on families, so his remarks really hit home for me.  I hope Jess finds a way to make up for that lost time now.

GOOD-BYE AND GOOD LUCK
So, congratulations to my friend, Jess Gilman, on his retirement and thanks to him for his service to our community.  We at A Bubbling Cauldron wish him and his family all the best in the future.  Due to staffing constraints - the current City Council still refuses to permit Chief Gazsi to fill vacancies - there are no plans to replace Gilman as a School Resource Officer.  The impact of THAT decision will be felt for at least a decade if not remedied soon.

*****

MEAN-SPIRITED GLOAT-FEST
In an unfortunate and mean-spirited usurpation of the Gilman ceremony, Jim Fitzpatrick - unemployed president of the Costa Mesa Taxpayers Association, the OC GOP shill organization - held a press conference only a few yards away from council chambers at the same time.  I did not attend his gloat-fest, so I don't know first-hand what he said to the one or two members of the press who attended.  We must assume he chose to, once again, identify the person caught on tape damaging campaign signs last weekend.

 VIOLATING THE RULES - AGAIN
I do know, however, that he flagrantly violated the rules by displaying campaign signs on city property - again.  And, once again, he had to be chastised for it.  This time Hatch did a wind-sprint from his office on the 5th floor of City Hall to Fitzpatrick's location to remind him of the prohibition.  I watched from the Council Chambers porch as he begrudgingly removed the signs - and I smiled.

 SAD IRONY
In an unfortunate bit of irony, members of the Costa Mesa Police Department - including Jess Gilman -  were forced to walk directly past Fitzpatrick and his new lackey, Kent Mora - the temporarily presumed plagiarist - who joined Fitzpatrick at his farce/press conference.  I can only imagine the thoughts going through their minds as they passed that location.  I suspect they might not be suitable for publication here. 

NMUSD Selects Dr. Frederick Navarro As Superintendent

THE BEST...
After a lengthy process that included winnowing out the best from 50 applicants, including lengthy interviews by the Community Interview Committee, the Trustees of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District announced their choice of Dr. Frederick Navarro as the new Superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District

GLOWING REVIEWS BY TRUSTEES
In a lengthy press release, which can be accessed via the district website announcing the selection, HERE, several Trustees spoke in glowing terms about Dr. Navarro and his accomplishments.  He is presently Superintendent of Schools for the Lennox School District, up near the Los Angeles International Airport area.

HE'S BEEN HERE BEFORE
Dr. Navarro certainly knows what he's getting into by accepting this job, having been an educator in this district in the past.  He was the Principal of Costa Mesa High School from 2002 - 2005.  He was Director of Secondary Curriculum 2005 - 2006.  He left NMUSD to become Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Anaheim, 2006 - December, 2010.  He has served in his position in Lennox since January, 2011.

SOLID CREDENTIALS
Dr. Navarro received his Bachelors degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 1981, his Master's degree from UCLA in 1984 and his PhD, also from UCLA, in 2000.

CONTRACT APPROVAL NEXT WEEK
His contract will be approved by the Board at the meeting on June 26, 2012.  Dr. Navarro does not plan to relocate from his current home to accept this job.

THE ESSENCE OF THE CHOICE
Among the many quotes from Trustees is this one from President Dave Brooks that may capture the essence of the selection:
"Dr. Navarro is a dedicated professional who cares deeply about educating all students. His integrity is above reproach, he is accessible, a good communicator and finds ways to get things done. We believe he will serve our students in an outstanding manner.”

MOVING FORWARD
Hopefully, this appointment will allow the NMUSD to move forward with the important work of educating ALL the children of this district.  Dr. Navarro brings a record of very significant accomplishment and leadership to his new job.  We here at A Bubbling Cauldron wish him well and congratulate the Trustees and the members of the community who participated in this process for a job well done.

Ketchum-Libolt Remembrance

TWO CMPD HEROES REMEMBERED
On a warm, sunny day dozens of current and retired members of the Costa Mesa Police Department, city staff, members of other law enforcement agencies, family and friends gathered under a cloudless sky to honor the memory of CMPD helicopter pilots Dave Ketchum and Mike Libolt a day before the 25th anniversary of the mid-air crash took their lives during a pursuit.
CHIEF GAZSI LED THE WAY...
Costa Mesa Police Chief Tom Gazsi, who was serving on the Newport Beach Police Department at the time of this tragedy, was the master of ceremonies for this event. He stood in front of a HUGE American flag suspended by a crane and a Hughes E500 helicopter, like the one Ketchum and Libolt were flying that fateful night and made available by the folks at the Anaheim Police Department, and gave us a brief history of the accident.
DAVE BROOKS SPOKE ABOUT DAVE KETCHUM
Retired CMPD Captain Dave Brooks (currently the President of the Board of Trustees of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Police Chaplain) gave the benediction, then spoke to the assembled crowd about Dave Ketchum.
BILL BECHTEL TOLD US ABOUT MIKE LIBOLT
Retired CMPD Sergeant Bill Bechtel, who was supposed to be in that helicopter that evening - on his first day as Commander of Costa Mesa's helicopter program - stepped up and spoke to us about Mike Libolt.
LOTS OF BRASS, RETIRED AND OTHERWISE
As I mingled with the crowd I saw former police chiefs Dave Snowden and Roger Neth. Snowden was chief on the day of the crash and Neth launched the helicopter program.
EMOTIONAL EVENT
This was a very emotional event for most of those in attendance and especially so for the many retirees who showed up.
TOUCHING SLIDE SHOW
After the ceremony on the helipad, Sergeant Phil Myers presented a brief slide show featuring the careers of Ketchum and Libolt.
FLYOVER SALUTE
The crowd then adjourned to the parking lot where the Anaheim PD helicopter did multiple passes in a flyover salute. I saw more than a few tears during that part of the service.
A BRIEF HISTORY
It's always a terrible event when we lose an officer in the line of duty. That night, as Ketchum and Libolt - along with 27-year-old civilian flight instructor, Jeffrey Pollard, who was along as an authorized observer - handed off the pursuit of William Acosta to the Newport Beach helicopter piloted by Robert Oakley and Miles Elsing when a mid-air collision occurred both went down on a hillside near UCI. All three men in the Costa Mesa helicopter died of their injuries. The Newport Beach pilots, in a smaller Hughes 300C helicopter, both survived. You can read contemporaneous news accounts and background history HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

SERVING TIME
Acosta was convicted of a variety of crimes from his actions that night and is serving 45 years in prison.

A WATERSHED MOMENT
I think it was appropriate to hold a remembrance for these two men. This crash was a watershed moment for the Costa Mesa Police Department and caused them to change the way they thought about the airborne law enforcement business.

PROUD TO BE A COSTA MESAN
Condolences to the families of those two brave pilots, and to the men and women of the Costa Mesa Police Department, who live with the memory of this event each day. It was yet another day I was proud to be a resident of such a fine city - one that does not forget its heroes.