Litchenberg moving on

Lauren Vane

When Capt. Danell Adams received Det. Paul Litchenberg’s letter of

resignation on Thursday morning, she didn’t have much to say, her

actions spoke to what she was feeling.

“When he gave me his letter of resignation I took my lighter out

and burned it and then he gave me a second one and I said, not

accepted,” Adams said.

After 11 years of service, Litchenberg, 36, will be leaving the

Laguna Beach Police Department to begin work as an felony

investigator with the Orange County District Attorney’s office in

Santa Ana.

Litchenberg applied for the position in April, he said.

“I want to be a detective for the rest of my career,” Litchenberg

said. “I like being a detective basically more than anything else.”

Working with the district attorney’s office will allow Litchenberg

to work as a detective for as long as he likes, where as in the

police department, detectives must rotate back to patrol after four

years, Litchenberg said.

Though Litchenberg will be living his dream when he makes the move

to the district attorney’s office, he said he will miss Laguna.

“This is where I started my career and it’s painful for me to

leave,” Litchenberg said. “I like the family atmosphere here at

Laguna Beach police.”

In turn, the police department will be sad to see him go.

“It’s a good thing for him,” Adams said. “He’s found his niche and

that’s what he wants to do.”

Litchenberg’s last day with the Laguna Beach Police Department

will be on Feb. 3, but Adams said they haven’t seen the last of him.

The investigators at the district attorney’s office typically

complete follow-up investigations on most Laguna cases, Adams said.

“We hate to lose good employees, but it’s all one big family,”

Adams said.