So long, cowboy

Much can be said about retired Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden,

who finished his 37-year career -- including 16 years leading the

Costa Mesa force -- earlier this month. Much can be said, but still

it will only touch the surface of what he has meant to the community.

He was compassionate. He cared about the residents. He comforted

those in need.

He made Costa Mesa safer. He made the police department more

responsive. He made this a better place to live.

There was ample proof of the community’s affection for Snowden at

his Western-themed retirement party a week ago (Snowden’s a huge

cowboy fan). More than 500 people showed up to wish him well,

including people he worked with throughout his career. His warm words

for those gathered, as well as the words of his wife, Ellyn, showed

how richly that affection is shared and returned.

This past week, there also was new evidence of the wonderful job

he did as chief. Crime dropped in the city by 5% in 2002, with theft

the only category that rose. Rape and murder were cut in half.

Robberies fell from 155 to 98, and assaults dropped from 203 to 156.

Since 1999, crime rates have been steady or dropped.

Those downward numbers demonstrate the city’s continued success

fighting crimes of all sorts. Snowden deserves much credit for that

success, as do the men and women who work for Costa Mesa’s Police

Department. All of them work hard. All of them are dedicated. And it

shows.

But it is not just for what he did while wearing his badge that

Snowden will be remembered. His volunteer work, notably at Hoag

Hospital, was unparalleled, his giving spirit unmatched.

So as Snowden leaves, perhaps the simplest, but still best thing

that can be said is that Costa Mesa is on the right track. He leaves

the city better than when he arrived.

For that, the chief deserves the community’s lasting thanks.

Snowden has walked off into the sunset. But the shadow he casts

will linger for many years.