Police chief prepares for retirement

Newport Beach Police Chief Bob McDonell has only three days left before he leaves his post, but you’d hardly know it.

New Chief John Klein takes over Sunday, but McDonell hasn’t slowed down a bit.

In his last report to the Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday, McDonell secured a generous parting gift for his department — $200,000 that will pay for renovating police headquarters’ lobby. Visitors will soon get to see vintage police equipment like radios, badges and weapons in museum-style glass cases.

In the last few weeks he has also worked with the council on approving next year’s budget as well as a plan for a new police station, something that will happen long after McDonell is gone, he said.

But don’t think the top cop isn’t ready for a break after 38 years of law enforcement. The first item on his itinerary is a trip through the United Kingdom with his wife and two sons. Then there’s the couple’s wedding anniversary in November.

When McDonell first came to the city as its chief in 1993 there wasn’t a lot to celebrate. The department was suffering low morale as it fended off lawsuits and struggled with antiquated technology and other issues.

But he managed to turn things around, city officials say. What was his secret?

It’s about “making sure people clearly understand what is expected of them, and he does that better than anybody I know,” City Manager Homer Bludau said Wednesday. “He wears his leadership well.”

During his tenure, the city annexed thousands of acres and added 16 officers to patrol the Newport Coast and Bonita Canyon areas. He’s credited with upgrading the department’s technology. For example, he helped put video- and audio-recording equipment in every patrol car.

McDonell may best be remembered for his contributions to the so-called Coplink system — an interagency computer network that allows departments throughout Orange County to exchange information.

Because of this network, the county’s police, superior court officials, prosecutors and educators in the University of California system can share information. Law enforcement officials in San Diego and Tucson also have access to the network, which allows them to see evidence such as mug shots and fingerprints. Soon, the city of Los Angeles’ police and attorneys, and possibly the FBI, will join the network.

The network has been McDonell’s baby, so he said he’d like to stay involved as it grows, even offering to work part-time as a consultant.

“It’s a lot like herding cats, probably no one else wants to do it,” he said. Still, now is a good time for a mental break from the grind, he added.

The next step, an electronic filing system for reports and citations, will dwarf the information-swapping, McDonell said. “If you can do all of that electronically that’s huge,” he said, adding that it’s cost efficient and you can save a lot of trees.

But his most treasured success has been building a strong staff through hirings and promotions.

“The general theme has always been bring in good people and promote good people and the rest will take care of itself,” McDonell said. “Bring in a good set of values” and treat people the way they would want their families treated.

“This is more than a job,” he said, referring to what he demands of his recruits. “It’s clearly a calling. You’re really never off duty.”

VOICES

“He was always personable, always took your phone call. He brought the respect back to the department when it was sorely needed. And even though we’d love to keep him, he deserves to retire.”

Dolores Otting

“He is an excellent manager. He runs everything with very high expectations and holds people accountable for achieving those expectations.

“Everyone always knows where they stand with Bob McDonell.”

Homer Bludau

“The chief has always been an inspiration to me. I look to him for his guidance and wisdom that will help me accomplish the task at hand.

“I could always count on the chief to provide me with honest and direct feedback, that would help me to self-evaluate myself and my career goals.”

Sgt. Evan Sailor

“Through his leadership on the Orange County Integrated Law and Justice Project, the chief led the way for a real-time countywide system for collecting and disseminating information.

“He is the oracle of state-of-the-art data-sharing systems for crime and justice.”

Leslie Daigle

“He was brought in at a time that there was lot of controversy in the department, and he was really able to turn it around. He’s always had a calm and business-like approach but gets results.”

Don Webb

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Newport Beach Police Chief Bob McDonell’s retirement celebration

WHERE: The Balboa Bay Club and Resort, 1221 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday June 29

INFO: Lt. Jim Kaminsky at (949) 644-3710