Arcadia Police Chief David Hinig bestowed the Police Department's Medal of Merit on Detective Stan Flores and Life Saving medals on patrol officers John Jurman and Jennifer Casillas.
Ron Garner, the new chief of the Police Dept., has over 21 years of experience with the Beverly Hills Police Dept. as officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain.
Ron Garner, 50, a deputy police chief in Beverly Hills with 24 years of police experience, has been named to head the Arcadia Police Department. He will lead a staff of 76 sworn officers and 26 civilian personnel.
Ron Garner, 50, has been named to head the Police Department and replace retiring Neal Johnson. Garner has more than 21 years experience with the Beverly Hills Police Department, including the last 5 as Deputy Chief.
Dave Hinig, Arcadia Police Chief, discusses changes in the department over the last thirty years, including new technology, new crimes, community composition and new hires.
Police Chief Neal Johnson, 59, will retire on December 31st after serving the city for 38 years. He plans to work for an international security management company and open an office for the firm in Arcadia.
Robert Seares, born in Pasadena in 1909, had an amazing career as a journalist, photographer, and police official. He was chief of police in Arcadia and remained there for 15 years until retirement. He wrote a memoir called "Eighty Years: a Memoir." A copy is in the Pasadena Museum of History library.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC, Police Chief Dave Hinig said the Arcadia Police Department has evolved and is thinking beyond local crime enforcement. Officers are thinking more regionally and are more conscious of calling the bomb squad.
The Arcadia Chinese Association announced Tuesday that it has withdrawn support for a one-week trip to Taiwan by Arcadia's police chief, saying it had turned into a divisive political and racial issue.
Several members of the Arcadia Chinese Association, in addition to Chinese groups from other cities called a press conference together to discuss the recent proposed trip to Taiwan for Police Chief Ronnie Garner.
Because of budget cuts, the nearly 50-year-old Santa Anita Courthouse jail in Monrovia is expected to close. According to Arcadia Police Chief David Hinig, the closing of the Santa Anita Court will follow within months. Closing of the lockup will affect both Arcadia and Monrovia police departments.