Changes at the top coming in Kern law enforcement
| Monday, Nov 30 2009 06:39 PM
Last Updated Monday, Nov 30 2009 06:40 PM
Three law enforcement agencies in Kern County are undergoing changes at the top, adding to a trend that began two months ago at the Bakersfield Police Department.
Two police chiefs said Monday they are retiring and a sheriff's commander was promoted to deputy chief in anticipation that one or two deputy chiefs will soon leave.
Claudia Neal, the first female police chief at the Cal State Bakersfield Police Department, will retire April 30 after serving more than six years in the position.
She noted Monday she has "a lot of groundbreaking" in her career, including 25 years at the Kern County Sheriff's Department, where she was the first female sergeant, lieutenant and commander.
Neal, 57, said she wants to have more family and fun time after 36 years in law enforcement.
Shafter Police Chief Charlie Fivecoat, 56, said he too will retire in April after serving in the department for more than three years.
He said he has a knack for organizing and building things, which he accomplished in his Shafter job by completing a new police station in 2008, building a new animal control facility and taking over the 580-bed Shafter Community Correctional facility.
Fivecoat, who gave a lot of credit to "his wonderful staff and community" for the accomplishments, said he will teach a class at Bakersfield College and check into consulting work, possibly in Saudi Arabia or the Caribbean.
Fivecoat spent 24 years with the sheriff's department, rising to the rank of commander. In the last year he has headed the countywide AVOID program aimed at reducing drunken driving.
The announced departure of those police chiefs came after Bakersfield Police Chief Bill Rector said in September he would retire in January when he turns 50.
Assistant Police Chief Lyle Martin and Capt. Greg Williamson are vying to replace him. Assistant Police Chief Bryan Lynn said he too will retire at the end of December.
Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Monday he was proud to announce the promotion of Cmdr. Shelly Castaneda to chief deputy sheriff effective Dec. 12.
Castaneda was chosen from a field of "several commanders" who applied, Youngblood said. Her experience, including more than a year as head of the patrol division, and her education, including a bachelor's and master's degree, led to her selection, he said.
Castaneda, 42, has been with the department for 18 years.
She fills a vacant chief deputy position that was held open after Keith Nelson retired more than a year ago.
But Youngblood said one reason for the promotion now was to prepare for the departure of one or two chief deputies in the near future.
Indeed, Deputy Chief Christopher Speer, 47, a 26-year veteran of the department, said Monday he will retire Feb. 13 to pursue becoming an attorney. He said he's in his second year in law school.
Speer said he's very happy with his sheriff's job and working for Youngblood, but he wants to become an attorney. Speer said he's had all his dream jobs at the department beginning with patrol and moving up to homicide detective and chief of operations.
A second Chief Deputy, Willy Wahl, said he hasn't made formal plans to retire yet, but he's looking at it as a possibility in March 2010 or March 2011.
"I'm staring at 58 (years old) in the face and 34 years in the department," Wahl said.
He noted the only benefit to his staying until 2011 would be to get another stripe on his shirt.
The only other Chief Deputy is RoseMary Wahl, 46, who is married to Willy Wahl. She has no plans to leave. In 2008 she became the first female chief deputy in the 142-year history of the department, and she noted then, "I hope I'm not the last."
The chiefs are next in command after the undersheriff, a spot now held by Marty Williamson.
Williamson, 52, said Monday that he has no immediate plans for retirement, although he has applied for the police chief positions in Shafter and CSUB.
He said part of his job is "succession training," which is making sure there are people ready to take over jobs of those who retire.
He said if he doesn't get either of the police chief jobs, he's very happy where he is.
