Police Captain Accused of Theft Quits Force

A Newport Beach police captain, arrested last week by Santa Ana police on suspicion of stealing a pair of jeans, resigned Friday before an internal investigation of his case was completed, the city manager said.

Capt. Richard F. Hamilton’s resignation is effective April 11, City Manager Robert L. Wynn said.

Hamilton, 44, a 23-year veteran of the Newport Police Department, was arrested on March 28 by Santa Ana police on suspicion of stealing a $20 pair of jeans from the Price Club at 3500 W. MacArthur Blvd., a misdemeanor.

Hamilton was taken off active duty the same day. He continued to receive his salary during the department’s investigation and was allowed to perform administrative duties at home, Wynn said.

Wynn said an internal investigation was nearly complete when Hamilton turned in his written resignation to Acting Police Chief Arb Campbell.

Hamilton was not jailed and was released by Santa Ana police on his own recognizance. He had never been in trouble before, a Santa Ana police spokesman said after his arrest.

Asked about the incident earlier this week, Hamilton told a reporter he couldn’t explain his actions.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I just got a case of the crazies.”

He said he’d never been involved in a shoplifting incident before, adding “policemen just don’t do things like that.”

“I’ve been under a lot of stress at work,” he said, particularly “the last couple of years.” He declined to elaborate.

During the brief doorstep interview, Hamilton appeared distraught. He kept his eyes cast downward and slumped against the doorframe as he spoke.

Hamilton was head of the Police Department’s administrative division and was one of four captains who reportedly directly to the police chief, Wynn said.

The city manager said he did not read Hamilton’s resignation letter but speculated that the police veteran “thought his effectiveness as a police captain could not be good and so he chose to resign.

“We all feel bad because this turn of events came suddenly to a very popular police captain,” Wynn said.

Campbell had said earlier that Hamilton might have received a temporary suspension without pay or dismissal from the force. Hamilton was unavailable for further comment Friday.

Times staff writer Heidi Evans contributed to this story.