Anaheim Captain Recommended for Police Chief

ANAHEIM —  After a nationwide search for a new police chief, City Manager James D. Ruth announced Tuesday that he is recommending Randall Gaston, one of the force’s own, for the job.

Gaston, 49, who has been with the Police Department for 28 years, currently serves as captain of its special operations unit, which includes the SWAT team. He is expected to be confirmed at a City Council meeting Jan. 11, Mayor Tom Daly said Tuesday.

“I’m fully in support of the city manager’s recommendation,” Daly said. “It is also my understanding that the entire City Council is unanimous in its support.”

The selection of Gaston to head the department would bring to a close a search that included interviews with 40 candidates. If confirmed, Gaston would take over a department with 522 employees, including 352 sworn personnel, and a budget of $50.8 million.

The job would pay Gaston between $86,000 and $107,000 annually.

Gaston, who rose through the department’s ranks to become a captain in 1983, would fill the vacancy created by the death of Chief Joseph T. Molloy, who succumbed to a heart attack in July at the age of 54.

The post has been filled in the interim by former Chief Jimmie Kennedy.

Gaston, who enjoys reading the biographies of world leaders and whose role model is the late Anaheim Police Chief Mark A. Stephenson, said belonging to the local police force is one his greatest satisfactions.

“There’s a degree of satisfaction that comes from working with people who have really made a commitment (to) help with the safety of the community,” he said. “This job is exciting, rewarding, sometimes frustrating. But overall, it’s a very positive experience.”

Gaston declined to detail his plans as chief, saying he “would be more comfortable giving a more in-depth view” after his nomination is confirmed by the City Council.

Interim Chief Kennedy, who served with the department for 29 years and was chief from 1983 to 1988, said he is satisfied with Ruth’s recommendation.

“I had the privilege of promoting (Gaston) to captain in 1983 and I believe he is an excellent choice,” Kennedy said. “He’s well respected in the community and in the department. He knows the department inside out. He knows all of the other managers in the city. He can take over the department and the department will never miss a heartbeat.”

“Randy has a very good feel for the changes that are occurring in law enforcement, “ Kennedy added. “He sees the whole picture, and doesn’t just focus on the small issues. He is a visionary.”

Daly agreed.

“Randall Gaston is eminently qualified and will be a great police chief for Anaheim,” Daly said. “He’s a longtime resident of Anaheim and he’s worked his way through the ranks of the department.

“He’s extremely qualified and very well-respected within the community and I know that he is committed 100% to fighting crime and making Anaheim neighborhoods as safe as possible,” Daly said.

But Ed Tate, a traffic officer and vice president of the Anaheim Police Assn., said the organization is taking a “wait-and-see” stance until Gaston demonstrates that he can help its members negotiate a new contract with the city. The group wants “at least a 15% salary raise,” Tate said.

The officers have been working without a contract for two years, and the association needs Gaston’s support to get results, Tate said. The average annual salary for officers is $35,000 to $40,000, according to Tate.

Even if the association wins Gaston’s support, Tate said, “I’m skeptical (about Gaston). I’m not 100 percent sure that I’m going to buy into (his promise). All we ask for is a guy with leadership, so we’ll wait and see.”

Mayor Daly said that he and his fellow City Council members are confident that Gaston will be able to find solutions to thorny problems. For example, the city made clear that it wanted a police chief who will cut fat from the department.

“Gaston knows the department very well and he knows the areas that need to be improved,” Daly said. “He knows the structure in the system and he’s prepared to maintain what’s working and improve what needs to be improved.”

Gaston, a graduate of Cal State Long Beach who holds a master’s degree in public administration from USC, is married and has four children. He has been an Anaheim resident for 28 years and was named Kiwanian of the Year by the Kiwanis of Greater Anaheim last year.

Gaston was selected from among six finalists for the post.

One officer who requested anonymity said that many members of the force did not want an outsider as chief and believe that Gaston deserves the post because he has “paid his dues.”

Police Capt. Randall Gaston

* Age: 49.

* Born: Lake Charles, La.

* Years with the force: 28.

* Education: Graduated from Bellflower High School, 1962; bachelor’s degree in criminology, Cal State Long Beach; master’s degree in public administration, USC.

* Residence: Anaheim, for 28 years; active in community affairs.

* Family: Wife Linda; three children (ages 26, 24 and 22) from previous marriage; two grandchildren (ages 4 and 1); 17-year-old daughter from current marriage.

* Hobbies: Gardening, running, bicycle riding, reading biographies of great people. Currently reading “Truman” by David McCullough.

* Person, living or dead, he most admires: Mark A. Stephenson, former Anaheim Chief of Police, who died last year. “An extremely interesting man (with) a great deal of wisdom and practical know-how.”

* Personal goal: “It’s been a lifetime goal to reach out and set some standard that you have to stretch to reach. That’s very motivating. You have to be persistent and not be discouraged because everybody is going to be discouraged some time. Perseverance pays off.”

Los Angeles Times