Police Chief Is Hanging Up Badge—Alan Lanning to Retire in September

Alan Lanning is retiring as La Mesa police chief in September, and City Manager Dave Witt will be in charge of hiring a new chief, Mayor Art Madrid said Monday.

As a department head, Lanning reports to Witt, the mayor noted. But members of the City Council may be consulted on a replacement.

“I would say that Al is an extension of all the chiefs that we’ve had,” serving the city’s needs, Madrid said. “I’ve known Al forever. I’ve been with the city for 41 years, and I can remember when he was a sergeant.”

Councilman Ernie Ewin said Lanning, 57, might retire at the end of September, timed to take advantage of his 35-year anniversary with the city for pension purposes.

“Al has a done a great job,” said Ewin, who noted that the decision about his successor is in the city manager’s hands to prevent it from becoming a “political appointment.”

Councilman Mark Arapostathis said he’s known Lanning since his stint on the Community Services Commission seven years ago.

Lanning “came up the ranks and continued building La Mesa Police Department as one of the best in the county,” Arapostathis said. “He’s definitely given his heart and soul to the city.”

Thanks to Proposition D, a bond issue passed by city voters in 2004, Lanning leaves a legacy of having built a $20 million police station, occupied last Sept. 20. Lanning’s second-floor office includes a wide balcony that overlooks the Allison Avenue county branch library to the south.

The chief Lanning succeeded, Cliff Resch, said Wednesday he was made aware of the retirement several weeks ago.

“I am very pleased for Al and (wife) Karen at this decision,” Resch said. “I truly believe that anyone who has spent the major portion of their life giving to the citizens deserves to ride off into the sunset as happy and as healthy as one can possibly be.”

“Al has spent nearly all of his adult life as a police officer and the stresses that come with it. He has risen to the pinnacle of his career at the local level. He now deserves to move on to the next phase of his life and enjoy his family and spend more time with them.”

Lanning also launched a series of neighborhood forums, meeting in school auditoriums, where he took questions from audiences on any issue of concern and shared information on crime prevention and public websites on the latest incidents.

“I found him to be very professional and very knowledgeable,” Arapostathis said. “Any questions we’ve ever had he’s been able to answer. He always made himself available to the public.”

But Lanning’s department also came under fire—from the public and city candidates—after news stories in summer 2010 depicted La Mesa as having the highest serious crime rate in the county.

In October 2010, Lanning stood before the City Council for an hour, calmly arguing with charts and figures that La Mesa’s poor showing in a SANDAG crime report was “an anomaly” and a “perfect storm” of bad figures in the first quarter of that year.

And in February 2008, his force came under critical scrutiny for its handling of a public-drunkenness case involving Madrid and a female city staffer. Police drove Madrid to his Eastridge house about a block away but conducted no sobriety tests.

The Police Department—divided into seven divisions—has an annual budget of $13.7 million, according to the city's 2011-13 preliminary budget.

Lanning, with the department since 1976, succeeded Cliff Resch as police chief in February 2005. Lanning was picked by then City Manager Sandy Kerl to head the force, which now has close to 70 officers, 30 nonsworn personnel and 50-60 members of the RSVP, or Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol, and other volunteers.

According to reports at the time, Lanning was among 66 people who applied for the job.

“Al competed against candidates from outside the organization and proved that he had exceptional qualities that will help him succeed in his new position," Kerl told The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2005.

Madrid told the Union-Tribune: “He’s got a number of attributes that I find highly desirable. He’s the quiet, silent, effective type. One of those skills is that he listens, and he follows through.”

Lanning started as a volunteer reserve officer in 1976 and became a patrol officer after his graduation from San Diego State University in 1977.

Members of the La Mesa Police Department learned of Lanning’s impending retirement about two weeks ago, said police Sgt. Ray Sweeney.

“We’re actually pretty sad to see him go,” Sweeney said Monday evening.

After Lanning, the top-ranking officials in the Police Department are captains Carlos Medero and Ed Aceves.

Ewin said council members were informed on Monday afternoon via email about Lanning's planned departure, and the city website posted the opening about 5 p.m.

According to the job posting, candidates should have “at least 10 years of increasingly responsible law enforcement experience in all major phases of municipal police work including five years of experience in a middle management capacity.”

Applicants must submit an online application and resume by 5:30 p.m. Aug. 29, the city said. 

“Candidates whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the city will be invited to participate in the examination process for this position,” the posting said. 

“The examination process may include assessment panels by internal and external panels, designed to assess candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities, an appraisal interview and writing assignment. Eligible candidates will be notified when testing dates have been established.”

Resch—the three-year chief who helped pass Proposition D—said La Mesa should look inside the ranks for a new leader.

“I believe an agency should only go outside for a replacement chief if: a) there are internal problems or issues,  b) there are no qualified candidates from within, or c) the city manager feels there needs to be a change from the status quo,” he said via email.

Lanning has lived in La Mesa for 12 years, according to a recent interview in the monthly La Mesa Courier.

“This community offers everything a community could want: shopping, restaurants, community events, nice neighborhoods, so you can take care of the things you need to without ever leaving La Mesa,” Lanning told editor Pam Crooks. “And yes, I do consider La Mesa a safe place to live.”

Lanning told La Mesa Today: “It’s been a rewarding career. It’s been an interesting career. I know every retiring chief says their department is the greatest. I don’t have that kind of ego, but I would put this organization up against any department. They serve this community well.”

Lanning plans to exercise more, fish and play golf, said La Mesa Today.

Said Resch: “I was VERY proud to have served in the same capacity and yet have fully enjoyed the opportunities that retirement have brought me. I have no doubt Al will make great use of his free time.”

Lanning’s retirement will be celebrated with a party at 6 p.m. Sept. 15 at the La Mesa Community Center (see attached).

“Food will be catered by Phil’s BBQ,” says the flier. Cost is $15 by cash or check, made payable to the City of La Mesa.

Story updated at 3:15 p.m. July 27, 2011.