PUBLIC SAFETY Police chief set to...

PUBLIC SAFETY

Police chief set to take off in retirement, for real

Costa Mesa Police Chief David Snowden will retire, completely, on

June 30.

The 59-year-old top cop has been retired since June when he

entered into an agreement with the city in which he would retire and

continue part-time working 960 hours a year.

Snowden has held the position for 16 years now. He was previously

chief of police in Montebello. Snowden considers his major

accomplishment the setting up of the Airborne Law Enforcement unit,

the city’s helicopter patrol, in collaboration with Newport Beach.

The chief, who lives in Newport Beach with his wife Ellyn, says he

plans to remain active in the community.

In other news, Former NBA star Dennis Rodman was arrested at his

Seashore Drive home early Friday morning on suspicion of assaulting a

woman he was reportedly dating, police said.

Police officers responded at about 2 a.m. to a 911 call from the woman, who was found standing in a parking lot at the corner of Coast

Highway and West Balboa Boulevard. She told police that Rodman gave

her a cut lip and a bump on her head, officials said.

Police said officers went to Rodman’s home and questioned him as

well as other people who were with him, and determined that he was

the one who had given the woman a cut upper lip.

He was booked at Newport Beach city jail and then taken to Orange

County jail. He posted a $25,000 bail. Police are still investigating

the incident and will file a report to the Orange County district

attorney, who will then determine whether to file charges.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.