LONG BEACH -- Long Beach Police Commander Jay Johnson will trade his LBPD bars for Newport Beach stars as the Orange County city's newest Chief of Police.
Johnson, one of five internal candidates who competed for the chief of police job in Long Beach last year, found out officially that he had earned the highly coveted post Monday morning.
"I've done a tremendous amount of research on the city of Newport Beach, its leadership, city manager, and the police department. The more I researched the more impressed I became with every aspect of the city," Johnson said Monday. "It is exceptionally well run .. and its police department is outstanding. They have a great community with one of the highest levels of support for their police department I've seen anywhere."
The more than 23-year veteran of the force was recently assigned to the LBPD's Emergency Operations Division after serving as commander of the LBPD's South Division since his promotion to commander in 2004.
And his departure marks the third from the LBPD command staff this year, with former Cmdr. Jorge Cisneros taking a job as chief of the Huntington Park Police Department and former Cmdr. Gary Morrison now serving as chief of the Carlsbad Police Department.
Cisneros was also among the group of internal candidates who applied for the LBPD Chief job.
Chief Jim McDonnell, who served more than 25 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, was named Long Beach's 25th chief of police in February.
Johnson said the decision to hire from outside for the LBPD chief's post did not factor into his move to Newport Beach, noting he was aware of the Newport Beach job well before former Long Beach Chief Anthony Batts announced his departure for Oakland last fall.
"I would have been content staying a commander in Long Beach and working for Chief McDonnell and a great command staff, except for that other Commander Johnson, the rest of my career," he said, adding a light-hearted dig for his brother, Cmdr. Jeff Johnson, who oversees the LBPD Training Division.
"I see the Newport chief position as a once in a lifetime opportunity," he added. "I can't begin to express how happy and honored I am to be able to work with the men and women of the NBPD."
The move to Newport Beach was a competitive one with Johnson beating candidates from across the country, said Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff.
"Commander Johnson went through a rigorous recruitment process, including at least five separate interviews," Kiff said. "In each phase of the process, Commander Johnson stood out as a candidate with great integrity, professionalism, diverse experience, a strong education and an excellent sense of our community."
Johnson's hiring marks the second time in less than a decade that the Newport Beach Police Department has seen something they liked in LBPD leadership, with Johnson taking over the top post from former LBPD Chief Robert Luman, who served as interim chief in Newport after retiring from Long Beach in 2006.
Johnson's start date is July 3. Luman's last official day at work is June 30.
Johnson's annual salary in Newport will be $204,500, subject to a payroll deduction for CalPERS pension costs that all NBPD safety staff face following their most recent round of contract negotiations with the city, Kiff said.
Johnson, who has been recognized for outstanding service and work performance more than 75 times during the past two decades, started his career with Long Beach in 1987.
During his tenure with the LBPD Johnson's assignments included Patrol - where he worked as a patrol officer and a field training officer - the Narcotics Enforcement Team, Felony Detail, Gang Enforcement, Community Policing Team and Special Enforcement Section.
Johnson's career also includes 12 years on the SWAT team in the roles of team member, team leader, tactical sergeant and lieutenant.
Though the cities are very different in size and demographics, Johnson said he still expects challenges in his new job particularly with the universal problem facing all cities -- shrinking budgets.
"Even with the outstanding leadership and sound fiscal management that exist in Newport Beach, when there is less money coming in we need to find creative ways to tighten the belt while continuing to provide the best service possible to the community," he said.
The married father of three children no doubt will draw on his educational background, which includes a master's degree in public administration from Cal State Long Beach, when dealing with some of those issues.
Johnson is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and comes from a family of Long Beach Police officers, with two brothers and a cousin who have all served on the force.
His life-long service to the city and remaining family ties made for a tough decision when he put in for the Newport job, Johnson admitted.
But Newport Beach was also a department he had considered when applying as rookie more than 23 years ago and its close proximity to his family's Orange County home makes for a good fit.
"This is a dream job," Johnson said. "Just don't pinch me until it's over."
Johnson, one of five internal candidates who competed for the chief of police job in Long Beach last year, found out officially that he had earned the highly coveted post Monday morning.
"I've done a tremendous amount of research on the city of Newport Beach, its leadership, city manager, and the police department. The more I researched the more impressed I became with every aspect of the city," Johnson said Monday. "It is exceptionally well run .. and its police department is outstanding. They have a great community with one of the highest levels of support for their police department I've seen anywhere."
The more than 23-year veteran of the force was recently assigned to the LBPD's Emergency Operations Division after serving as commander of the LBPD's South Division since his promotion to commander in 2004.
And his departure marks the third from the LBPD command staff this year, with former Cmdr. Jorge Cisneros taking a job as chief of the Huntington Park Police Department and former Cmdr. Gary Morrison now serving as chief of the Carlsbad Police Department.
Cisneros was also among the group of internal candidates who applied for the LBPD Chief job.
Chief Jim McDonnell, who served more than 25 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, was named Long Beach's 25th chief of police in February.
Johnson said the decision to hire from outside for the LBPD chief's post did not factor into his move to Newport Beach, noting he was aware of the Newport Beach job well before former Long Beach Chief Anthony Batts announced his departure for Oakland last fall.
"I would have been content staying a commander in Long Beach and working for Chief McDonnell and a great command staff, except for that other Commander Johnson, the rest of my career," he said, adding a light-hearted dig for his brother, Cmdr. Jeff Johnson, who oversees the LBPD Training Division.
"I see the Newport chief position as a once in a lifetime opportunity," he added. "I can't begin to express how happy and honored I am to be able to work with the men and women of the NBPD."
The move to Newport Beach was a competitive one with Johnson beating candidates from across the country, said Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff.
"Commander Johnson went through a rigorous recruitment process, including at least five separate interviews," Kiff said. "In each phase of the process, Commander Johnson stood out as a candidate with great integrity, professionalism, diverse experience, a strong education and an excellent sense of our community."
Johnson's hiring marks the second time in less than a decade that the Newport Beach Police Department has seen something they liked in LBPD leadership, with Johnson taking over the top post from former LBPD Chief Robert Luman, who served as interim chief in Newport after retiring from Long Beach in 2006.
Johnson's start date is July 3. Luman's last official day at work is June 30.
Johnson's annual salary in Newport will be $204,500, subject to a payroll deduction for CalPERS pension costs that all NBPD safety staff face following their most recent round of contract negotiations with the city, Kiff said.
Johnson, who has been recognized for outstanding service and work performance more than 75 times during the past two decades, started his career with Long Beach in 1987.
During his tenure with the LBPD Johnson's assignments included Patrol - where he worked as a patrol officer and a field training officer - the Narcotics Enforcement Team, Felony Detail, Gang Enforcement, Community Policing Team and Special Enforcement Section.
Johnson's career also includes 12 years on the SWAT team in the roles of team member, team leader, tactical sergeant and lieutenant.
Though the cities are very different in size and demographics, Johnson said he still expects challenges in his new job particularly with the universal problem facing all cities -- shrinking budgets.
"Even with the outstanding leadership and sound fiscal management that exist in Newport Beach, when there is less money coming in we need to find creative ways to tighten the belt while continuing to provide the best service possible to the community," he said.
The married father of three children no doubt will draw on his educational background, which includes a master's degree in public administration from Cal State Long Beach, when dealing with some of those issues.
Johnson is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and comes from a family of Long Beach Police officers, with two brothers and a cousin who have all served on the force.
His life-long service to the city and remaining family ties made for a tough decision when he put in for the Newport job, Johnson admitted.
But Newport Beach was also a department he had considered when applying as rookie more than 23 years ago and its close proximity to his family's Orange County home makes for a good fit.
"This is a dream job," Johnson said. "Just don't pinch me until it's over."
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