City begins police chief search

Costa Mesa officials have begun the search for a new police chief, and City Manager Allan Roeder said Friday he will select an interim chief to head the department for two to three months beginning in July.

Chief John Hensley announced in April he would retire June 30 and he intended to stay on until a new chief was found, but he now plans to leave at the end of the month, Roeder said.

The city has hired CPS Human Resource Services, a Sacramento-based firm, to head the search for a permanent chief. The firm will meet with City Council members and representatives of police employee associations to discuss qualities a new chief should have and ways to improve the department.

The interim chief will be “somebody who’s an experienced chief from the outside,” Roeder said.

Since he will accept internal applicants for the permanent chief spot, Roeder added: “I think it’s unfair to any of the internal personnel to put them in that position.”