Costa Mesa interim police chief to step down

COSTA MESA — Interim Police Chief Les Gogerty will step down and resume his former position as captain, a city official confirmed Monday.

Gogerty asked City Manager Tom Hatch last week to find a replacement so that he could go back to being captain of field operations, said Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer.

As interim chief Gogerty had taken on the duties of both positions, Righeimer said.

It is not clear when Gogerty steps down as interim police chief.

The Field Operations Division oversees about 100 officers and employees and special units, including the special enforcement detail, gang unit, school resource officers, South Coast Plaza detail, canine unit, S.W.A.T. and park rangers, according to the Police Department’s website.

“He’s been doing it all,” Righeimer said. “He was a stellar interim chief, and he’s a stellar guy. We’re very happy about the job’s he’s done.”

Gogerty was named interim chief in November when then-Police Chief Chris Shawkey was put on paid administrative leave for reasons the city has never disclosed. Shawkey announced his resignation last week.

The city is looking both outside and inside the department to fill the interim and permanent chief positions, Righeimer said. However, he could not say if this contributed to Gogerty’s choice to step down.