New Chief in Town (Redlands Daily Facts 082506) Lopez to lead Baldwin Park

I cannot help but say Congradulations to the new chief of Baldwin Park, but if they didn't even put the job up for outside interest, it says that they wanted Lopez to take the job from the begining, and the Bells in my head are ringing really loud!! I don't know what they are saying but there are Bells and Whistles.

The Baldwin Park City Council wanted Lopez to take over for Kling for a long time it shouds like, and was that because Kling was allowing Lopez to run the department While he sat back and thought well Capt. Lopez that is a great Idea. Lets do that!!

Or, was there some scandal in Baldwin Park the kind of Scandal that Involves the Chief of Police, after all he says this is his last place that he will be working for a long time to come, yet his last place of that he was Chief only lasted a little over 6 years. I have bit my tounge long enough. I have to get my feelings out on this guy. these are some of my concerns reading this article.

Rialto somehow got a guy that is going to bring trouble here. There has been some rumors about him already, yet the News Paper and the City Council at Baldwin Park were all sweet talking him, now that he is gone they announce the replacement, and it was all done clean. as if they had planned it out due to a scandal in their city. Possibly. Well Like all good soups, the rot always boils to the surface sooner or later!!

BSRanch

New chief in town Lopez to lead Baldwin Park police By Nisha Gutierrez Staff Writer

• Slideshow: Baldwin Park Police Chief BALDWIN PARK - The new chief of police said he is happy to be at the height of his career in the city of Baldwin Park. "This is home," said Ed Lopez, the newly appointed interim chief at the Baldwin Park Police Department."I have been in this department for 25 years ... it's a good feeling." On Aug. 16 the City Council promoted Lopez, who had been a captain at the department for five years, to interim chief of police to fill the spot Mark Kling vacated when he became chief in Rialto. City officials said Lopez's position will become permanent when his contract negotiations are completed. Council members said no other candidates were interviewed for the chief's spot and said the vote to hire Lopez was unanimous. "Chief Lopez is very familiar with the department, he has been here for more than 20 years and has experience from every level all the way to the top," Councilman Anthony Bejarano said. "The great thing is that Mark Kling allowed for the captains to get the necessary experience to succeed him as chief ... Lopez is ready to take over the position." Lopez, who turns 50 on Sept. 11, said his love for law-enforcement began when he was a child. "Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a police officer because of the excitement that was involved with it," Lopez said. "It's a combination of the adrenaline the job gives you and being able to help people." Before becoming a police officer, Lopez said he spent a few years in the Army in the 1st infantry division. In 1979 he began working as a reserve police officer for the Garden Grove Police Department and two years later he was hired in Baldwin Park. "I worked patrol and I have really done just about every assignment," Lopez said. "I have worked narcotics, gang investigations and the detective bureau." City officials said Lopez's experience made him the obvious pick to lead the department's 131 employees. "This is a person who knows Baldwin Park and was one of the original people to begin cleaning up the gang infestation and drug dealers we used to have here," Mayor Manuel Lozano said. "He comes from within the ranks and he is popular among all the officers and that is important for all of us." Lopez said he hopes to follow in Kling's footsteps. "Kling left the department good, he was very innovative and creative and he raised the level of the morale in the department," Lopez said. "I hope to be able to sustain that and further it along ... I'm also taking a look at the department from basics and \ figure out if there is anything we can do more efficiently and effectively." City officials said they are confident Lopez will lead the city and Police Department in the right direction. "He has been in the position of captain for quite some time and he was groomed to take on the chief's role," Councilwoman Marlen Garcia said. "I think he will do a great job." nisha.gutierrez@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2109