Sheriff’s Dept. Veteran Is Interim Police Chief

Andy P. Romero, a 27-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, became the city’s interim police chief Wednesday.

City Council members unanimously endorsed his appointment Tuesday night, after saying thanks to Dean Richards, a retired Orange police captain who had held the position since former Chief John R. Robertson was suspended in October.

Richards was unable to continue because of restrictions on the amount of time retirees may work and still be eligible for their pensions, City Manager David L. Rudat said.

Romero, 55, said he would not get entangled in the controversy surrounding Robertson, who was fired by Rudat in February on charges including insubordination and poor judgment. The firing was confirmed by a 3-2 vote of the City Council, with Councilmen Michael Alvarez and Dan Slater charging that Robertson had been “railroaded” from his job for investigating embezzlement allegations involving the city’s trash and recycling companies.