Chief reflects on his first year

Deepa Bharath

The city’s police department is visibly different from what it was

one year ago.

Officers have traded in their all-white patrol cars for the

traditional black-and-whites. Detectives are now required to wear

suits and ties and carry their weapons at all times. Patrol cars are

equipped with rifles.

For Costa Mesa Police Chief John Hensley, who made those changes

and many more, his first year in the city has been in a fast-forward

mode. Hensley took over for former Chief Dave Snowden, who retired in

June 2003 after heading the department for 16 years.

His first year in Costa Mesa has been mostly about finding his

bearings and setting up a strong, community-oriented policing

program, Hensley said.

“The biggest difference is instilling that philosophy in all

officers, as opposed to two problem-oriented policing officers who do

all the work,” he said.

Although officers still spent much of their time fighting violent

crimes such as robberies and sexual assaults, they also focused on

“quality-of-life issues,” Hensley said.

“People see a noticeable change in day laborers loitering around,

the shopping carts issue and catering trucks,” he said. “We don’t

hear many of those complaints in City Council meetings these days.”

But the year has not been without its difficulties. Hensley came

at a time when rival gangs in the city were involved in tit-for-tat

shootings and attacks. Then early this year came the string of sexual

batteries on Victoria Street.

Finding the men who have reportedly been grabbing women in broad

daylight has been a challenge for the department, Hensley said.

“We’ve had 10 victims now,” he said. “But we have many suspects,

and there is no pattern that we’ve been able to establish. The

suspect descriptions have been generic, and some of the incidents, we

believe, were copycat incidents. We’re putting a lot of resources

into this case, but it remains unresolved.”

Gang detail officers continue to watch the situation in sensitive

areas in town, especially the Westside and the areas surrounding

Coolidge Avenue, where two people were shot and wounded the night

before Thanksgiving. Several suspects were arrested in connection

with the shooting after a multi-agency sting.

Hensley said he has had his officers go out to the neighborhoods

and maintain close contact with the community.

“We listen to what is important to the community,” he said. “The

community believes gang crime is on the increase. And I don’t want to

see things get worse. Not on my watch.”

In fact, crime on the whole is seemingly on the rise in Costa

Mesa, Hensley said.

“That’s just the nature of the statistics,” he said. “The numbers

can’t continue to go down like they were over the last 10 years. It

has to bottom out, and that’s what is happening right now.”

Hensley said he expects to see a 3% to 5% increase in overall

crime in 2004.

“I expect to see that increase in property crimes such as thefts

and burglaries,” he said. “That’s where crime-prevention education

comes in. Community members need to be aware of their surroundings

and help us by locking their vehicles and not leaving property lying

around in their cars.”

Within the department, Hensley said, he has seen some resistance.

“It’s been tough on them,” he said, referring to the officers. “My

style is very different from Dave Snowden’s.”

But his officers have cooperated with him and offered him their

support, Hensley said.

“I appreciate that because I’m not easy to work for,” he said.

“I’m results-driven. I don’t like to hear ‘No’ or ‘I can’t.’ I’m not

an ogre. I try to be pleasant, but this is a business, and we need to

deliver.”

Hensley still smiles when he talks about making his detectives don

formal wear.

“I think everyone realizes by now that polo shirts, Dockers and

tennis shoes are gone,” he said.

The chief said he is also happy with the recent arrest of Jason

Balcom in connection with the 1988 rape and murder of 22-year-old

Malinda Gibbons, a pregnant housewife, who was found stabbed in her

one-bedroom apartment. Detectives tracked down Balcom using DNA

evidence.

Working cold cases is still a top priority for the department,

Hensley said.

“We’ve got some of our best talent working on those cold cases,

and they’re committed to getting closure on those,” he said.

Hensley has done a good job, continuing from where Snowden left,

said City Manager Allan Roeder, who selected Hensley from a field of

topnotch candidates.

“He has focused on quality of life issues and taken the

community-oriented policing to a neighborhood level,” he said.

Hensley’s track record with the program was key in his selection,

Roeder said.

“Community-oriented policing is the baseline for everything else,”

he said. “It’s important to get out into the neighborhoods and have a

regular presence in the community.”

The department has not been without its “growing pains,” Roeder

said.

“It’s bound to happen when things change after 16 years,” he said.

“But the chief has shown a willingness to understand and recognize

that there has to be some degree of give and take.”

Mayor Gary Monahan said he is very happy with the chief’s

performance.

“I think he’s done a great job overall,” he said.

Hensley performed the tough task of coming in as a new chief in a

department and community where people had “strong opinions about

their police chief” and proving himself in that environment, Monahan

said.

“But he has done great,” he said. “And I look forward to having

many, many more anniversaries with him in our city.”

Hensley says he has a lot to look forward to in the coming year.

“We’re going to get digital voice recorders for our officers, so

they can record conversations they have with neighbors,” he said. “It

helps us from a customer service point of view.”

The department also hopes to install new computers and software in

patrol cars, he said.

“We’re still dealing with problems over our new computer system,

because the hardware doesn’t support the new software,” he said. “But

we hope to iron those out soon.”

He hopes to streamline the SWAT team and put all traffic officers

on motorcycles, so they can be more effective, Hensley said.

“We’d also like to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents,” he

said.

Recruitment is a major issue with several retirements coming up,

Hensley said.

“Budget is also a concern because of the uncertainty with state

funds,” he said. “So we’re going to have to pursue grant funds more

aggressively.”

Hensley said he hoped to find a house in Costa Mesa but wasn’t

successful. The fact that he doesn’t live here, however, makes no

difference, he says.

“I’m here 12 to 16 hours a day, five to six days a week,” he said.

“My heart’s here.”

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

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