TFP: What convinced you to vote the way that you did?
A.V.: Stability in a department, and having the person stay longer than just a year or two. That would give a department stability, like Ted Cooke. He stayed twenty-seven years. There was beautiful stability in there. No threat of leaving. He ruled as a general.
TFP: If there was almost nothing to choose among them, what made you vote the way you did?
A.V.: I’ll tell you. I made a statement last night. Maybe I should say it. But it was almost to the point to hire all three of them. All three were excellent. It was just that much more, maybe because of the age, not even the age, probably they were all about the same age. To be honest with you, I don’t even remember the age.
TFP: I think the ages are similar.
A.V.: Let me put it this way. I will give you an example. Sometimes when you date a girl, she will encourage you to kiss her, versus another girl who won’t say anything about it. You are afraid to ask her because you don’t want to be turned down. It was that close. The really, really reason I voted the way I voted was the long-term mission (or vision) the person has for the department.
TFP: You thought Hank would leave?
A.V.: Well, Hank will stay, whatever. It might be five years from now, six years from now. They all retire after thirty years, something like that. I think this guy will stay longer. Just like they ask me, when will I retire? I say ‘Never.’ A lot of people retire at sixty-five. They can’t wait any longer.
TFP: Did anyone ask Seabrooks why she was applying here for the second time in two years? She is supposed to be in line for (Santa Monica Chief James T.) Butts’ job.
A.V.: According to her, she loves Culver City. She is coming to Culver City a lot. She shops in Culver City.
TFP: I had heard she lives here, but she doesn’t.
A.V.: She doesn’t live here. But she moved not far away from Culver City. I understand she frequently, frequently comes to Culver City.
TFP: Did you extract any kind of promise from him that he will stay?
A.V.: The understanding was there, I believe, the way that he talked, that he will stay long. He had extremely good vision, and he has a very good name in the department where he comes from. Let me put it this way. They all three impressed me a lot, not a little. Like I said, I made a statement: I wish I could hire all three of them. To put the Chief, the Assistant Chief and Assistant Chief.
TFP: Did you talk to any people in Signal Hill?
A.V.: No. I will do today though.
TFP: How long would you expect him to stay?
A.V.: I do not know. I did not ask him that question directly, expressly, How many years are you going to stay with us? But I did say, Are you looking at this as a long term? I said, Don’t forget that we had a Chief of Police for many years. Ted Cooke was here for twenty-seven years.
(At this point, City Councilperson Carol Gross enters.)
C.G.: Don’t tell me we are talking about the Chief of Police,
A.V.: He found out before I did.
TFP: Can we do two interviews for the price of one, at no extra charge?
C.G.: Only for five minutes.
TFP: Did you vote for the Signal Hill guy whose name I have but I can’t remember?
C.G.: I certainly can’t discuss what went on in Closed Session.
TFP: But you can tell me why you voted for him?
C.G.:I didn’t say who I voted for or why. You are barking up the wrong tree.
TFP: As far as I know, he attracted only one vote and still prevailed.
(Mr. Vera to Ms. Gross): You know, Carol, the name never came up, the name of the person we voted for. That’s why I told Mr. Noonan, he (inaudible).
TFP (to Ms. Gross); So, the reason you voted for him was what?
C.G.: For whom?
TFP: Him.
C.G.: We had two hims and a her.
TFP: For the Signal Hill guy?
A.V.: I’ve got news for you. When he came in this morning, he said, Oh, it’s him, the guy from Signal Hill. I said, Boy, news travels fast.
TFP (to Ms. Gross): Was your vote last night for Pedersen or against Davies and Seabrooks?
C.G.: I can assure you that my vote last night was for the best for the future of this city, as it always is.
TFP: On what grounds? Albert said on the grounds of longevity.
C.G.: On my evaluation of what this city needs, what will best serve the city.
TFP: Why wasn’t the Assistant Chief (Mr. Davies) what is best for Culver City?
C.G.: I didn’t say that, nor did I say what my vote was.
TFP: Is it safe to presume that both of you are disappointed that (the suddenly retired John) Montanio left in less than two years?
C.G.: I can speak for myself, and Mr. Vera can speak for himself. I am definitely disappointed. I thought that he was doing a lot of very good things.
TFP: Can you sign the new chief to a contract of, say, three or five years? Is there any way to bind him?
C.G.: There is no way to bind anyone. You know what they say, There is nothing sure except death and taxes.
