MILLENNIUM MOMENT

Dave Snowden started his police career as a patrol officer in Montebello

in 1966. He didn’t step into his current role, replacing Roger Neth as

Costa Mesa’s Chief of Police, for 20 years.

Snowden has an enthusiasm for Western movies: He has often served on the

committee for the Golden Boot Awards for Western movie actors. Though he

doesn’t wear a Stetson around town or ride a horse to work, he does

cultivate a sort of Western informality and the old-time sheriff’s

enthusiasm for fighting crime. Snowden has worked to make the police

department both more open and accessible to the community -- and more

intimidating to criminals.

In addition to his local work, Snowden has been the president of the the

California Police Chiefs’ Assn.

* MILLENNIUM MOMENT celebrates the people who have made a major

contribution to the Newport-Mesa community during this century.