Two Laguna officers become sergeants

Two long-time Laguna Beach police officers were sworn in as sergeants during a ceremeony at City Hall last week.

Patrol officers James Cota and David McGill, who have been with the department for 20 and 13 years, respectively, were sworn in Nov. 24 and will replace Bob Rahaeuser and Louise Callus, who each retired this year after 30 years in Laguna Beach.

Cota, whose colleagues named him Officer of the Year in 2003, has served as a narcotics detective in the special investigations unit and a training officer responsible for testing and hiring of new recruits, according to a news release.

Cota is also a member of the department’s Force Tactics Team, training officers on proper defensive tactics and use of the Taser.

McGill has been a reserve officer, booking officer and, for the last 11 years, a motor officer, according to the release.

McGill was promoted to corporal in 2007, when he received the Medal of Courage, one of the department’s highest honors. He has helped train numerous officers, primarily in traffic enforcement and collision investigation but also in general patrol functions.

In the past eight years, McGill’s advanced training in accident investigation has had him handling the majority of the city’s major and fatal traffic collisions, the release said.

McGill spent nine years in the military, including serving in Desert Storm as a military police officer and a custom inspector.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce