is at play. When Arb Campbell said he wasn't paying
attention to the sexual harassment in his Department
...that played well, until he himself came under a
gray cloud of interest. Arb was a nice guy, a decent
guy some would say. He was Chief of Police when we
didn't have much crime in Newport Beach. We did have
some sexual harassment of some dispatchers and perhaps
parking meter maids and others.
Let's just say it all got pretty ugly and those many
lawsuits continued unabated until Arb left and was
replaced by Mr. Clean: Chief Bob McDonell. Chief Bob
was a beautiful guy. He was enough of a politician
and enough of a solid cop to keep the various employee
Unions at bay....as well as the constant array of new
City Council Members. We loved Bob! Bob took our
phone calls, made time to see us about our various
issues within the city. Chief Bob even let us join
up on the Citizens Police Academy #7. Our names are
even exhibited in the main hall at the NBPD HQ!
Then, Bob wanted to retire. He had paid so much
into his Pension plan....that it was getting to be
downright counter productive to continue working.
Bob asked to retire. He was granted his retirement
and immediately got rehired to fill-in while the
City tried to find a suitable replacement. That
went on for a couple of years - as we recall.
Finally, the City Manager Homer Bludau and the
entire Newport Beach City Council.....said they
had finally found the right guy to replace Bob
- John Klein! They had a big party and everyone
that was everyone showed up - including the old
Orange County Sheriff, Brad Gates at the Bay Club
for the big Replacement Christening! Bob even
allowed us for a quick preview meeting with new
"Chief to be" Klein. Seeing them both together
was really quite an impressive deal. Two Top Cops,
that seemed to be dancing on the same head of a
pin...in perfect unison. Our questions were tough
but their answers a little mushy..yet what could
you say...they were great and they asked us in!
We took a liking to Chief John Klein right off.
He kind of reminded those of us with a little
military background as one of those great Command
Sergeant Majors! Gruff, but by the book! His round
smile belied his inner tough as nails approach..
anyone could tell that! We attended the Bay Club
Festive Coronation Event, took our photos and then
celebrated the fact that we had a pretty darn good
man to replace "the Great Archangel" Bob McDonell.
Anyway, then comes the adversity....some Detective
says he didn't make Lieutenant because coworkers or
"People thought he was gay!" This is one of those
pregnant moments, that as a Police Chief of any city
in America...you would want to crawl under your desk.
Who got blamed?...the records are sealed, but the
money from the City is going out. Then suddenly it
is uncovered, the so called fact, that Chief Klein
was improperly selected by the City Manager and
improperly awarded his position!
These issues all kind of sat and simmered for a
month or two and now the heat is on again. This
time the Management Union of the NBPD continues
to push the agenda that Chief Klein "has to go"
...because "he was improperly selected!" A pretty
weak reason for all us civilians.
Give us a break....something is going on here that
just doesn't sound or smell right. Based on the
history of Newport Beach for the past 10 years....
all we can say is...that they probably aren't going
to reveal much to us out here in the hinterland.
What is the real story? Why would 21 or so of the
33 NBPD Managers want Chief Klein to step down? And
why is Homer retiring in September? Coincidence?
Our uneducated opinion is simple: If Chief Klein
has done any wrong doing...he should be gone. If
Chief Klein has done nothing wrong..the City should
open up the process and ask that anyone within the
NBPD that wants to take a jab at the Chief's job...
should do so within 30 days. Just don't complain too
much fellas....when you are promptly thrown off the
force ......right after you lose that challenge!
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