LA HABRA

G. Steve Simonian, the city’s mayor pro tem and a veteran law enforcement officer, was named interim chief of police for Bell Gardens on Tuesday. Simonian, who recently retired as the police chief of Montebello, served that city for 31 years and was the community’s top police officer for 10 years, said Bell Gardens spokesman Phil Wagner.

In addition to his police chief duties, Simonian also was named as the interim city manager for Bell Gardens. Simonian will continue to serve on La Habra’s City Council, where he and his wife, Mary, have lived for 30 years. They have two adult children.