First in a series.

Tall, svelte and handsome, looking fit enough to go 15 rounds, Allen Azran turned 50 years old last weekend, observed his 29th anniversary with the Culver City Police Dept., and he is retiring on Thursday as acting assistant police chief.

Whew!

Culturally, he is a rare gem, too – a Jewish cop.

At the height of his considerable professional/communications skills, Mr. Azran, who might be called a gym rat, is stepping aside. Only temporarily.

After he, wife Catherine and son Adam return from a January cruise, he plans/hopes to begin the active second chapter of his law enforcement career.

“A lot of things go into the decision-making process,” Mr. Azran said yesterday afternoon in a wide-roaming interview in his second-floor office.

“I weigh where I am in my career with, maybe, some outside opportunities that may present themselves.”

With that, he arrived at the most sensitive, crucial juncture of his decision-making:

“More importantly,” said the ambitious Fairfax District native who grew up in the Valley, “we have to recognize this is a small police department. There are not a lot of opportunities for people to promote and move up.

“And so for me to stay and, in essence, hold a spot, when in my mind I believe there are others who are ready, able and capable, in need of further development and further maturation, for me to hold that spot when I could retire, weighs into my thinking.

“Obviously,” said Mr. Azran, “that is not the only reason I am retiring.”

(To be continued)