Sergeant

It's kind of amazing when you think about it. Here we are in the year 2007 and the Costa Mesa Police Department just now saw the first woman officer — actually two women — rise to the rank of sergeant. While they stated they preferred not to make that an issue, Stephanie Selinske and Joyce LaPointe really have to be remembered as pioneers. "We strive to have fun and be leaders, and this was just the next step," Selinske told our reporter. It wasn't that long ago that police work was considered the domain of men only.

When it comes down to it, what do Newport Beach Police Department officers, sergeants and civilian employees have to gain from taking the stand and tarnishing the organization’s reputation? Attorney John Girardi said that should be the most important question jurors should ask themselves as they deliberate next week whether the department discriminated against Sgt. Neil Harvey and failed to promote him based on false rumors that he’s gay. Attorneys presented their closing arguments Friday, with Harvey’s lawyers appealing for empathy from the seven-woman, five-man jury and the city’s attorneys pointing to a slew of testimony by lieutenants and others contradicting Harvey’s claims.

A San Pedro woman was arrested Friday after crashing into a Costa Mesa police car and continuing on her way, authorities said. Jessica Vranna, 25, remained in Orange County jail Friday on suspicion of a DUI after her car clipped a Costa Mesa sergeant’s marked vehicle at about 1:40 a.m. Friday, California Highway Patrol officials said. The officer was northbound on Orange Avenue going through the Rochester Street intersection when the two cars collided, Lt. Marty Carver said.

Four Newport Beach Police Department members received promotions Tuesday in a ceremony at City Hall. Tom Fischbacher, a 22-year NBPD veteran, was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant; Officer Kirk Jacobi, a 23-year veteran, was promoted to sergeant; Officer Dave Miner, a 9-year veteran, was also made a sergeant; and Jason Servin was made senior dispatcher, according to a news release from Kathy Lowe, the department's spokeswoman. Police Chief Jay Johnson also presented three Chief's Citations for outstanding work to three officers, while several others were recognized with awards for 20 to 30 years of service on the force.

A Newport Beach police sergeant wounded a pit bull after the dog reportedly charged toward him Sunday, police said. The sergeant was on patrol at about 3 a.m. near West Ocean Front and Summit Street when he saw a light that appeared to be emanating from a tent on a West Newport beach, Newport Beach Police Sgt. Bill Hartford said. The sergeant approached the tent to tell the occupant, Jose Lopez, 35, of Newport Beach, that camping is not allowed. As he walked toward the tent, the sergeant noticed an unleashed 80-pound pit bull near the tent, Hartford said.

Hamilton, Charles Pelin, 81, passed away on Oct. 5, 2010. Chuck was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and moved to California in 1960. He served in the Korean War and was a Sergeant with the Costa Mesa Police Department, where he patrolled for 28 years. Chuck is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia; sons Charles and Robert; daughters Susan Karr and Elizabeth Koos; 5 grand-children; and 2 great grandchildren. Services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 2:30 p.m. at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Costa Mesa.

DAVID SILVA The second of two parts. After my squad leader, Sgt. Stump, told me he was going to "get me" for throwing out his peppermint schnapps, I realized I had a serious problem on my hands. It was pretty clear that by "get me," Stump meant that he was going to "kill me." Worse, Stump's rank in the National Guard and our being out in the boonies on summer drill afforded him a thousand ways to follow through on his euphemism. As I nervously ticked off in my head the many ways Stump could do me in, my imagination ran wild.

COSTA MESA — Assemblyman Allan Mansoor's proposed legislation aimed at stripping unions of collective bargaining for pension benefits died in a vote in Sacramento, his office announced Wednesday. Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) had introduced Assembly Bill 961 in February, which would have kept negotiations over health benefits and wages intact, while removing pensions from the equation. When he introduced the bill in February, he said he stood in solidarity with legislators in Wisconsin, who were embroiled in their own collective bargaining fight.

Stephanie Selinske and Joyce LaPointe, two of the newest Costa Mesa officers to be promoted to sergeant, don't wish to be known only as the first women in the department to ascend to the rank. And at Wednesday's promotion ceremony at City Hall, their superiors and peers made it clear they would be admired for much more than just their gender. "They scored in the top of the group, and I interviewed all of them personally," Chief Christopher Shawkey said as he emphasized the point that Selinske and LaPointe should be recognized for what they accomplished as experienced officers.

Four Newport Beach Police Department members received promotions Tuesday in a ceremony at City Hall. Tom Fischbacher, a 22-year NBPD veteran, was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant; Officer Kirk Jacobi, a 23-year veteran, was promoted to sergeant; Officer Dave Miner, a 9-year veteran, was also made a sergeant; and Jason Servin was made senior dispatcher, according to a news release from Kathy Lowe, the department's spokeswoman. Police Chief Jay Johnson also presented three Chief's Citations for outstanding work to three officers, while several others were recognized with awards for 20 to 30 years of service on the force.

Two former Newport Beach police lieutenants allege in a lawsuit that they were unfairly passed over for promotions in a workplace they claim was rife with favoritism and retribution. The allegations filed earlier this month in Orange County Superior Court by Craig Frizzell and Steve Shulman assert that they were overlooked while other officers were promoted through tests set up to favor certain members of the Newport Beach Police Department. In addition to the city and the Police Department, the lawsuit names as defendants former Police Chiefs Bob McDonnell and John Klein and former City Manager Homer Bludau.

COSTA MESA — Assemblyman Allan Mansoor's proposed legislation aimed at stripping unions of collective bargaining for pension benefits died in a vote in Sacramento, his office announced Wednesday. Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) had introduced Assembly Bill 961 in February, which would have kept negotiations over health benefits and wages intact, while removing pensions from the equation. When he introduced the bill in February, he said he stood in solidarity with legislators in Wisconsin, who were embroiled in their own collective bargaining fight.

Hamilton, Charles Pelin, 81, passed away on Oct. 5, 2010. Chuck was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and moved to California in 1960. He served in the Korean War and was a Sergeant with the Costa Mesa Police Department, where he patrolled for 28 years. Chuck is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia; sons Charles and Robert; daughters Susan Karr and Elizabeth Koos; 5 grand-children; and 2 great grandchildren. Services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 2:30 p.m. at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Costa Mesa.

Newport Beach Police Officer Sam Sa walks with a subtle confidence. He doesn’t strut with his chest puffed out or offer a bone-crunching handshake when he introduces himself, though it’d be hard to blame him if he did. The 34-year-old, who doesn’t even look like he’s 30 yet, grew up in Richmond, a rough city in the San Francisco Bay Area, was a squad leader in Fallouja during one of the major offensives in the Iraq...

Newport Beach police arrested two Valencia brothers New Year’s Eve after they allegedly beat up a Santa Ana man near Newport Pier, Sgt. Steve Burdette said Friday. Darren Deldo, 25, and Daniel Deldo, 27, were waiting in line to enter the District Lounge, 121 McFadden St., shortly before midnight when some of their female friends began arguing with other women about cutting in line, Burdette said. The two groups moved to the base of Newport Pier to continue the argument.

Newport Beach police officer Neil Harvey finally won his hard-fought battle for promotion to lieutenant. But Harvey, 49, who successfully sued the city for not promoting him because of false rumors that he was gay, will be paid a lieutenant’s salary without having to work at all. As part of a personnel agreement struck between the city and Harvey, he was bumped up to lieutenant from sergeant, and he won’t have to report for duty, high-ranking...

Newport Beach’s police chief is asking the city to extend the candidacy for officers up for promotions into late 2009, a reversal of his earlier stance that could particularly benefit one sergeant, who recently won a $1.2-million lawsuit against the city for not being promoted. Police Chief John Klein has asked the Civil Service Board to extend the list of promotions for sergeants, lieutenants and captains for three months each, to Oct. 16, Nov. 4 and Dec. 3, respectively.

Newport Beach will have to pay $700,000 more to cover the attorney fees of police Sgt. Neil Harvey, who won a discrimination lawsuit against the city earlier this year, Superior Court Judge Peter Polos ruled Monday. The sum — $706,775 — is about one-third what Harvey’s lawyers were seeking and brings the total Newport Beach will have to pay for keeping Harvey from rising to lieutenant to about $1.9 million. A jury ruled earlier this year that Newport Beach Police Department leaders failed to promote Harvey out of retaliation and based on false rumors that he is gay. The jury awarded the 27-year veteran $1.2 million.