Re “Pedersen Retires as Police Chief – Bixby Is Up Next”
[img]1663|right|Chief Pedersen||no_popup[/img]Unlike the messy scramble that ensued in the wake of Ted Cooke’s November 2003 retirement as chief of the Culver City Police Dept., the pending departure of the current longtime leader will be orderly.
His way.
It will be eight years ago next month that Don Pedersen, a modest-sized 45-year-old man with a latter-day Roy Rogers face and a Captain America-sized mind became the department’s fourth chief in 2½ years.
The in-house turnstiles on Duquesne Avenue spun crazily after The Legend, the hugely feared, strongly admired, more than slightly autocratic Mr. Cooke, reluctantly handed over his unprecedented, almost ineffable, authority to no one in particular.
The mad dash to succeed him looked like a scrambles night at old Ascot Park.
First, it was Gary Martin, en route to retirement himself.
Then it was John Montanio, a favorite of certain influential powers who reportedly faced eventually unmanageable difficulties as he rose from One of the Guys to The Chief, a thorn-laden path. The congenial Mr. Montanio’s elevation was described by terms such as “rocky,” “cliff” and “steep.”
City Hall sources said Mr. Montanio and the gentlemen and gentle ladies of the police force were a match made in Afghanistan or Crimea, definitely not Culver City.
Next came department veteran Bill Burke. He represented still another personality switch for his fellow cops.
Peace did not last long enough to grow whispers.
Mr. Pedersen was the first non-department guy in 30 years to occupy the chief’s chair.
Loudly griping by supposedly muscular veteran officers at the top of the Police Officers Assn. stirred up enough sentiment against Mr. Pedersen four years ago — a variety of charges – that they and their minions were betting their next breaths he would be on the other side of the door before their next finger snaps.
Chief Pedersen stared ‘em down and won.
Personally, that could be his most recommendable legacy.
It was said that 77 of 89 members of the POA decided on their own to cast no-confidence votes against Mr. Pedersen. They huffed. They puffed. And a Pedersen hurricane blew the wind back in their faces. They are said to have scattered.
Four years later, Mr. Pedersen, head high, is leaving on his own terms, to join the staff of Max Huntsman, the County’s new Inspector General, charged with overseeing the troubled Sheriff’s Dept.
Mr. Pedersen said that when he leaves, possibly but not necessarily in the next few days, Asst. Chief Scott Bixby, will be in charge. Respected and liked, the City Council will determine whether/when Mr. Bixby becomes the permanent chief.
