City residents praise retiring police chief

Beyond the confines of City Hall, most reacted with disappointment to the announcement this week that Costa Mesa Police Chief John Hensley will retire.

Hensley, 50, has decided to retire June 30 after nearly three years at the department’s helm. In an interview Thursday, he said he didn’t believe he could help the department any further.

Many suspected his decision was prompted by controversy over the city’s immigration enforcement plan, but he said that had nothing to do with it. He’s spent hours meeting with concerned residents to explain it.

Whatever his reasons, many residents are sorry to see him go.

“I think he did a good job,” said Mirna Burciaga, a restaurant owner and activist who has opposed the immigration plan. “He was in favor of what they call friendly policing, where he’d direct the police officers to go and talk to the community and try to improve the relationship that already exists?. He was very open to talk to anyone in the community.”

Burciaga said she appreciated the time Hensley spent with the community discussing the immigration plan, and she thought the police handled the April 1 rally at City Hall well.

Westside resident Mike Berry said he’ll miss Hensley, and he credits the chief with bringing helicopter patrols to the city and expanding bicycle patrols that helped make the Westside safer.

Berry said he thinks the community had more faith in Hensley’s goals than those of some previous chiefs.

“I didn’t agree with him all the time, but I certainly trusted him all the time,” Berry said.

Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Ed Fawcett said he had a good working relationship with Hensley. As the city searches for a new chief, Fawcett said, he’d like to see someone with not only law enforcement experience but also political savvy.

“It’s a hell of a juggling job,” he said. “Somebody really has to be able to get along with the council, city manager, the community and their own staff. That’s a tough job.”

To some, Hensley’s departure will leave city law enforcement rudderless at a critical time.

Resident Dan Worthington said although he didn’t know the chief intimately, he’s sorry to see the chief go.

“You don’t need to have this kind of a problem in our city, with the things that we’re dealing with in a high-visibility manner with immigration.”

The city will immediately begin searching for a new chief. Hensley has agreed to stay until one is found.