Snowden

COSTA MESA POLICE CHIEF When former Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden got to Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center on May 3, 2001, officers were interviewing Steven Allen Abrams, who was still seated behind the wheel of the car he had driven through the preschool's playground. He saw 4-year-old Sierra Soto pinned under the Cadillac. "At first I thought it was a terrible accident," Snowden said. "When I heard it wasn't, I was angry, I was sad -- all of those feelings rolled into one."

74th Assembly District: The March 20 brief “Snowden backs Daigle for Assembly” incorrectly said that Irvine financial planner Paul Vann, an independent, is running for the 74th Assembly District seat. As of last week, he is no longer in the race.

Much can be said about retired Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden, who finished his 37-year career -- including 16 years leading the Costa Mesa force -- earlier this month. Much can be said, but still it will only touch the surface of what he has meant to the community. He was compassionate. He cared about the residents. He comforted those in need. He made Costa Mesa safer. He made the police department more responsive. He made this a better place to live.

Deepa Bharath And then there were five. The search for a new police chief to replace retiring Chief Dave Snowden has narrowed to five candidates after weeks of one-on-one interviews, tests and panel discussions, officials said Monday. City officials declined to divulge the names of the candidates because it is a confidential search. The race began in January with 37 people vying for the high-profile job. City Manager Allan Roeder reduced that number to 12 and then to five, said Howard Perkins, the city's personnel manager.

Only in a city that is home to an enormous house with a happy face stained glass window would you find a tribute luncheon that involved the arrests of four major local players, a physical assault (or vandalism) and grown men in plastic bibs. Only in a city with a hotel modeled after an Arabian palace along one of its major thoroughfares would you find an event such as Thursday's Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame function. Those who attended are probably nursing sore abdominal muscles today from laughing so hard.

Deepa Bharath In the last 16 years, Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden has seen a city grow from the ground. He's seen roads paved, wires grounded and people multiply. He's watched children die and victims cry. He's seen himself build a Police Department and make a connection with a diverse community. He's had his laughs and shed a lot of tears. Now, he's ready to move on. On June 30, the 59-year-old chief will walk out of his office and not return.

Deepa Bharath NEWPORT-MESA -- It's plain and simple. Local police are not looking to become immigration officials. The reaction came quite naturally from Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden, as well Newport Beach Police Chief Bob McDonell, following Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft's statements Wednesday that he would favor a change in policy to let local police make arrests based solely on immigration violation. Snowden said his department would be happy to assist the federal government in looking for terrorists or wanted criminals who also happen to be in the country illegally.

PUBLIC SAFETY Police chief set to take off in retirement, for real Costa Mesa Police Chief David Snowden will retire, completely, on June 30. The 59-year-old top cop has been retired since June when he entered into an agreement with the city in which he would retire and continue part-time working 960 hours a year. Snowden has held the position for 16 years now. He was previously chief of police in Montebello. Snowden considers his major accomplishment the setting up of the Airborne Law Enforcement unit, the city's helicopter patrol, in collaboration with Newport Beach.

THE WHOLE WORLD'S A FAIR It was just like the Orange County Fair -- except in Ventura. Erin Dale, last seen operating a cinnamon roll booth at the Orange County Fair, was not having quite as much fun in Ventura. The location of the family's booth -- tucked near the end of a dark and unpopulated row far away from the maddening crowd -- meant that customers were flocking to the other cinnamon roll booth, and Dale didn't have much to do. But her time in Ventura wasn't totally without spice.

Lolita Harper About 30 people rallied at the City Council meeting Monday night to condemn the recent arrest of a protester, claiming Costa Mesa police selectively enforced laws and shut down a peaceful demonstration. Speakers crowded City Hall to speak out against the arrest of Costa Mesa resident Naui Huitzilopochtli during a July 4 protest at Niketown. Huitzilopochtli was booked on suspicion of assault and battery after allegedly throwing red paint at a man. He denied the allegations on Monday.

74th Assembly District: The March 20 brief “Snowden backs Daigle for Assembly” incorrectly said that Irvine financial planner Paul Vann, an independent, is running for the 74th Assembly District seat. As of last week, he is no longer in the race.

I was very disappointed in former Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden's Community Commentary in Wednesday's Pilot ("Time to return to sound policy"). Not only did it contain inaccurate information, but he resorted to playing the race card. Snowden states that we used to have a "caring reputation" and that "our large Latino population trusted us." I believe our population in general trusts us regardless of their heritage and that we do care about the community we serve. There are many people with a Hispanic last name just as I have a Middle Eastern last name.

COSTA MESA POLICE CHIEF When former Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden got to Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center on May 3, 2001, officers were interviewing Steven Allen Abrams, who was still seated behind the wheel of the car he had driven through the preschool's playground. He saw 4-year-old Sierra Soto pinned under the Cadillac. "At first I thought it was a terrible accident," Snowden said. "When I heard it wasn't, I was angry, I was sad -- all of those feelings rolled into one."

Deirdre Newman Dave Snowden's aggressive pursuit of modernizing the Beverly Hills Police Department as the interim police chief inspired the city to abort its recruitment process and appoint him as the new police chief. Snowden said he is thrilled at the opportunity. "What I found here is a very professionally run organization that has pretty much been held back in making progress to the 21st century," Snowden said. "Although they've got excellent people and they've got a great commitment to policing, they really don't have the resources available that they could have if they had gone after them.

Deepa Bharath Dave Snowden is not done being chief yet. On Jan. 5, the man who retired after leading Costa Mesa's police department for 16 years, will take over as the interim police chief for the city of Beverly Hills. It's going to be quite a commute from Newport Beach. But Snowden said he is up to the drive and the challenge the job itself presents. "Beverly Hills and Costa Mesa have a lot in common," he said. "They both have some high-end shopping.

Much can be said about retired Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden, who finished his 37-year career -- including 16 years leading the Costa Mesa force -- earlier this month. Much can be said, but still it will only touch the surface of what he has meant to the community. He was compassionate. He cared about the residents. He comforted those in need. He made Costa Mesa safer. He made the police department more responsive. He made this a better place to live.

Only in a city that is home to an enormous house with a happy face stained glass window would you find a tribute luncheon that involved the arrests of four major local players, a physical assault (or vandalism) and grown men in plastic bibs. Only in a city with a hotel modeled after an Arabian palace along one of its major thoroughfares would you find an event such as Thursday's Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame function. Those who attended are probably nursing sore abdominal muscles today from laughing so hard.

Deirdre Newman Fran Ursini, whose family owns the Newport Rib Co., usually opts for California casual over a suit and tie. When he did don a tie on Thursday to accept a Community Spirit Award for his family, a representative of the Kiwanis Club cut it in half. The good-natured ribbing provided one of the many laughs at a luncheon sponsored by the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and South Coast Metro Alliance at the Hilton Costa Mesa. In addition to the Ursini Family, Experian received a Community Spirit through Corporate Leadership Award, and Police Chief Dave Snowden, who is retiring in June after 16 years at the helm, took home the Individual Achievement Award.

Deepa Bharath And then there were five. The search for a new police chief to replace retiring Chief Dave Snowden has narrowed to five candidates after weeks of one-on-one interviews, tests and panel discussions, officials said Monday. City officials declined to divulge the names of the candidates because it is a confidential search. The race began in January with 37 people vying for the high-profile job. City Manager Allan Roeder reduced that number to 12 and then to five, said Howard Perkins, the city's personnel manager.

PUBLIC SAFETY Police chief set to take off in retirement, for real Costa Mesa Police Chief David Snowden will retire, completely, on June 30. The 59-year-old top cop has been retired since June when he entered into an agreement with the city in which he would retire and continue part-time working 960 hours a year. Snowden has held the position for 16 years now. He was previously chief of police in Montebello. Snowden considers his major accomplishment the setting up of the Airborne Law Enforcement unit, the city's helicopter patrol, in collaboration with Newport Beach.