LAPD chief’s shocker echoes in S.F.
August 6, 2009
 |
| George Gascon, The City's new police chief, is rumored to be interested in the Los Angeles police chief position. (Examiner file photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — With just days until George Gascón is scheduled to start as the new chief of the San Francisco Police Department, the job he has been rumored to be waiting for became available.
Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton stunned that city on Wednesday by saying he’s stepping down after a seven-year tenure in which he instituted major reforms of the once-scandalized department.
“For me personally and professionally, it is the right time,” Bratton, 61, said during a City Hall news conference where he revealed he will begin working with a global security firm.
Bratton will be leaving with three years remaining on his second five-year term.
Gascón, who will be working as the police chief in The City without a contract, spent two decades as a police officer in Los Angeles, ascending the ranks there from beat officer to assistant chief. Bratton, who will work at the LAPD until Oct. 31, was his boss.
After Los Angeles, Gascón moved on to Mesa, Ariz. He served as the police chief there from 2006 until he took the job in San Francisco earlier this year. In Arizona, where he oversaw 800 officers, he was often criticized by officials for having an eye on the chief job in Los Angeles.
Gascón’s fiancée, a television reporter and producer, is also based in L.A.
There has been talk about how long he will hold the San Francisco position.
During the June 17 news conference to introduce Gascón, Mayor Gavin Newsom said there are “future police chiefs within the rank and file of our San Francisco Police Department,” and that “there is no doubt that will happen very soon.”
On the same day, Gascón told The Examiner that he was “very committed to being here and doing the right things.”
The comments about commitment to the new job continued Wednesday. Immediately following Bratton’s announcement, Newsom’s chief of staff, Steve Kawa, said Gascón has assured the Mayor’s Office that he will be starting this weekend. A quiet swearing-in is expected to take place Friday.
Despite all assurances from Gascón, though, the position of San Francisco police chief is an at-will post. Without a set contract, he can resign any time he wants to.
George Gascón
- 55 years old
- Divorced father of two; engaged to Los Angeles newscaster
- Born in Cuba; emigrated to America at age 13
- Bilingual; speaks Spanish
- Hobbies include surfing and running
- Earned bachelor’s degree in history from Long Beach State University
- Earned law degree from Western State University College of Law
- Active member of California Bar Association
- Served in Army from 1972-75; honorably discharged as a sergeant E-5
- Worked for Los Angeles Police Department from 1978-81
- Took six-year break to pursue career in business management
- Served as reserve officer while away from department
- Returned to LAPD in 1987 and worked there until 2006
- In L.A., served as officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, commander, deputy chief and assistant chief
- Moved to Mesa, Ariz., in 2006 to lead Police Department
bbegin@sfexaminer.com
