Palos Verdes Estates Police Chief Will Stay

Palos Verdes Estates has suspended the process of hiring a new police chief after Chief Monte Newman, who went on medical leave in July because of hypertension, withdrew his request for retirement, which was to have begun Tuesday.

Officials gave no reason for Newman’s action, which they learned of in a letter from the state Public Employees Retirement System. Newman could not be reached for comment.

Although Mayor Edward Ritscher and other officials do not expect Newman to return to work, they cannot replace him until he resigns or retires.

“We don’t have a vacancy, so as far as we’re concerned, the process just sits,” Ritscher said.

Ritscher said the council is miffed about Newman’s action because it assumed that there would be a vacancy Tuesday. The council this week received an oral report from a consultant evaluating four Police Department candidates for chief.

Capt. Mike Tracy, who is serving as chief and is considered a leading contender for the permanent job, said that under city rules, Newman has a year to retire or return to work.

When Newman, 55, a 26-year veteran of the department, announced his retirement plans in May, police sources said it was because of unhappiness over police salaries and a strained relationship with City Manager Gordon Siebert. Newman took medical leave in July on the advice of his physician.

Tracy said that he and other candidates for chief understand that until there is a vacancy, nothing can be done. “No one is angry with Monte,” he said.