Deputy Police Chief Accepts New Post

James T. Butts, who worked his way from cadet to deputy police chief in Inglewood, is leaving the department this fall to become chief in Santa Monica, officials announced Wednesday.

It was widely known within the department that Butts was seeking a chief’s position. He had been in the running for the Pasadena police chief but was not chosen. When told of his impending departure Wednesday, many in and out of the department said it would be tough to fill Butts’ shoes.

“He’s highly respected,” said former Inglewood Police Chief Joseph Rouzan Jr., who is the president of the Inglewood school board.

Butts, 37, is a 17-year veteran of the Inglewood force, where he moved up quickly. He was named sergeant in 1981 and promoted to lieutenant in 1984. Two years later, at the age of 33, he became the youngest captain in the department’s history. He was named deputy chief last April.

Butts, who grew up near Florence and Van Ness avenues in Los Angeles, will become the youngest chief in Santa Monica’s history and the first black to head the 175-officer department. He will take over from retiring Chief James Keane on Sept. 9. Santa Monica officials said Butts ranked first among 72 candidates by a panel of law enforcement and personnel experts. His annual salary will be $98,628.

Inglewood Police Officer Gary Luckett, who has known Butts since he was a cadet, said he expects a bright future for Butts.

“He is a highly intelligent person,” Luckett said. “He’s very bright, very innovative and very well-liked. He’s the type of guy who’s going to end up the chief of police of a major big city some day.”