27-year veteran is named police chief

The city of Newport Beach announced Wednesday that Police Capt. John Klein, a 27-year veteran of the department, will replace Chief Bob McDonell this summer.

Klein, who now runs the department’s patrol and traffic division, will take office on July 1.

For the next two months Klein will shadow his boss, learning about the role of chief — one of the few positions he has not yet filled in the department where he has spent his entire career.

Along with his present role supervising all uniformed officers, Klein has worked as a narcotics and crimes-against-persons detective, an executive assistant, and 18 years in the SWAT unit.

Basically, “I’ve worked in every division in the building,” he said.

But this is a new challenge that Klein, who just turned 50 this month, is thrilled to take on.

“I am very excited [with] the challenge I get to face,” Klein said. “I have been with Newport a long time.”

He expressed confidence that strong relationships built up over the years in each division will prepare him to step into the chief’s role.

“Klein will be someone who connects well with the community through his warmth and personality and people skills,” City Manager Homer Bludau said. “I respect his judgment and the strength of character he will bring to the position.”

Bludau has had plenty of time to prepare for this transition, having been informed by McDonell two years ago that he planned to retire in June 2007.

McDonell has been a law enforcement officer in California for 38 years , 21 of those were spent as a police chief, McDonell said, adding that he couldn’t think of a profession he would have rather had.

“I’ve not regretted going to work a day in my career and not many people can say that,” McDonell said. “You can’t ask to be a police chief in a better city.”

McDonell has served as chief in Newport since 1993 and has been involved in a number of high-profile issues with the city.

People in Newport may best remember him years from now for his contributions to the Coplink system — an interagency computer network that allows departments from La Habra to San Clemente to exchange case information.

Police, the superior court, district attorneys and the University of California system now have the capability to share information, thus allowing them use evidence such as mug shots and fingerprints collected by other agencies to investigate crimes in their own jurisdictions more efficiently, McDonell said.

“To connect all the places one person may have committed crimes and connect all those pieces of information, I think it has been very valuable to law enforcement,” McDonell said.

McDonell intends to travel in his retirement and is making plans for a special vacation with his wife this fall to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.