City asks to open chief recruitment

Newport Beach could begin recruiting a new police chief this week if the Civil Service Board lends its approval Monday night.

City officials are seeking the OK to open recruitment for the chief’s position, which hasn’t had a permanent replacement since July, according to the board’s meeting agenda.

Amid a no-confidence vote by department managers and calls for him to be re-vetted for the position, John Klein retired as chief. He headed the department for two years after serving for nearly two decades as a sergeant, lieutenant and briefly as a captain.

Robert Luman, who has been serving as interim chief since July, was slated to lead the department for only six months. But as January crept closer, city officials said there was still much for Luman to do before leaving.

For one, Luman had to see the department through a revamped promotional process, which officers have described as a source of morale problems. One retired lieutenant has filed a claim against the city claiming his promotional testing in 2008 wasn’t fair. Others pointed to Klein’s own ascension to chief from lieutenant in less than two years as an issue.

Luman is scheduled to leave at the end of June. On top of looking in-house, city law requires officials to consider candidates from outside the department when looking for a new chief.

Luman is being paid $230,000 for his year as chief.