Two finalists for police chief, sources say

Two police veterans each with more than 20 years’ experience in metropolitan departments are now finalists for the position of Newport Beach police chief, city officials said Tuesday.

The candidates are retired Los Angeles Police Department Asst. Chief Michael Bostic and Long Beach Police Department South Division Cmdr. Jay Johnson, said the sources, who asked for anonymity.

City officials should announce their selection next week.

Both men have decades of experience in a variety of commands in large police departments.

Bostic was with the LAPD for 34 years and had 28 different assignments in that period. He temporarily served as LAPD chief in 2002 after Bernard Parks. He has a bachelor’s in police science from Cal State Long Beach and a master’s in public administration from USC.

Bostic is now working with the Raytheon Co. in public safety technology and communications.

Johnson was a candidate earlier this year for the Long Beach chief’s job. He’s been with the LBPD for 20 years and has worked in narcotics, gangs, community policing and special enforcement.

Two of his brothers and a cousin have been police officers as well. He was on the LBPD’s SWAT team for a dozen years, serving as a leader, tactical sergeant and lieutenant, among other duties. Johnson holds a master’s in public administration from Cal State Long Beach.

Johnson now leads Long Beach Police Department’s Southern Division downtown.

During the past year, former Long Beach Police Department Chief Robert Luman has filled in as interim-chief of the Newport force since John Klein’s departure last summer after two years at the helm.

Many in the department disapproved of Klein’s rise and the Police Management Assn. ultimately pushed him out amid a city-backed investigation into department promotions.

Luman’s tenure ends June 30. He will have been paid $230,000 for the fiscal year.

No officers within the department applied for the chief’s position.