3 Lengthy Seaside public security leaders retire weeks aside – NBC Los Angeles

Fireplace chief retiring after greater than 33 years

Buchanan will retire on Dec. 11 after greater than 33 years with the Lengthy Seaside Fireplace Division.

He turned chief in February 2023, making historical past because the division’s first Black and Latino fireplace chief.

Buchanan rose by way of the ranks after serving as a firefighter, paramedic and recruit coach. Throughout his tenure as chief, the division opened Fireplace Stations 20 and 9 and added a 24-hour ambulance unit.

“For greater than three a long time, Chief Buchanan has answered the decision to serve Lengthy Seaside,” Mayor Rex Richardson stated in a press release. “I’m grateful for his partnership, management and the instance he has set for future generations.”

Richardson additionally acknowledged the timing of Buchanan’s departure as town prepares for the Olympics.

“As we put together for the division’s subsequent chapter and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Video games, we’ll construct on the muse he helped set up,” the mayor stated.

The announcement didn’t specify Buchanan’s motive for retiring.

Metropolis Supervisor Tom Modica plans to conduct a nationwide seek for Buchanan’s alternative, contemplating candidates from each inside and outdoors the division. Town expects to pick a brand new fireplace chief in early 2027.

Buchanan’s departure additionally comes after a tough funds cycle for the Fireplace Division. Town’s adopted funds included the elimination of dozens of positions and the closure of Engine 14, which served neighborhoods close to Colorado Lagoon.

The reductions prompted considerations about emergency response occasions, with metropolis officers acknowledging that eliminating the engine would have an effect on service in surrounding neighborhoods.

In a newly launched memo, town says if Engine 14 is eradicated, one other engine responding to a construction fireplace in its district would take, on common, greater than a minute longer to get there. Mekahlo Medina experiences for the NBC4 Information at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.

Police chief stepping down on the finish of December

Buchanan’s retirement announcement comes precisely one week after Hebeish introduced he would retire Dec. 31, ending a 32-year legislation enforcement profession.

Hebeish has led the Lengthy Seaside Police Division since December 2021, overseeing roughly 1,200 staff, together with greater than 800 sworn officers.

In his retirement assertion, Hebeish thanked the division and metropolis management for supporting him by way of what he described as among the most difficult years in fashionable legislation enforcement.

“It has been an unimaginable honor to face alongside the devoted women and men of the Lengthy Seaside Police Division in service of our group,” Hebeish stated.

Hebeish’s tenure included efforts to increase police recruitment, scale back gun violence, strengthen worker wellness applications and enhance group relationships.

The division additionally confronted challenges involving staffing shortages, response occasions and an increase in deadly site visitors collisions.

Town is launching a nationwide recruitment course of to interchange Hebeish, with group enter and interviews involving technical panels and metropolis division administrators.

Modica will make the ultimate choice, with a brand new police chief anticipated to be introduced in early 2027.

Richardson has additionally related the seek for a brand new police chief to Olympic preparations, saying town desires a frontrunner who can keep public security and readiness as Lengthy Seaside welcomes guests from all over the world in 2028.

Metropolis’s catastrophe preparedness director additionally retires

The management modifications lengthen past police and fireplace.

Harrison retired final Thursday after 30 years with town. He had served because the founding director of the Division of Catastrophe Preparedness and Emergency Communications since 2014.

The division oversees citywide emergency planning, 911 communications and homeland safety preparedness applications.

Throughout Harrison’s tenure, town established a backup 911 communications middle, expanded emergency notification capabilities and developed complete evacuation and shelter-in-place plans.

“I’m deeply pleased with the work our crew has completed collectively in constructing a extra resilient Lengthy Seaside,” Harrison stated in his retirement announcement.

Harrison stated he plans to journey and spend time with household throughout retirement.

Modica appointed Kevin Lee, town’s chief communications officer, to function performing director whereas Lengthy Seaside conducts a nationwide recruitment for a everlasting alternative.

The division performs a central position in coordinating responses to main emergencies, together with pure disasters, public security incidents and large-scale occasions.

Its subsequent director will take over as Lengthy Seaside continues getting ready emergency operations and communications programs for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Video games.

The departures don’t essentially point out a disruption to public security preparations. Nonetheless, they imply three departments answerable for defending residents and responding to emergencies will endure important management modifications as town strikes nearer to internet hosting the Video games.

With lower than two years remaining, the query going through Lengthy Seaside is who will lead these departments into the Olympics and the way town will guarantee continuity in public security and emergency planning in the course of the transition.