Briefly In Public Safety

Police captain to retire after 31 years

Laguna Beach Police Capt. Mike Hall is retiring after 31 years on the force, City Manager John Pietig announced at the Feb. 15 City Council meeting. Hall, who grew up in Laguna Beach, started with the department as an explorer.

His wife, Leah, is Pietig’s assistant.

“For the past four years he has been commander of patrol and has done an outstanding job,” Pietig said. “I understand he is going to pursue his flying and instruction.”

—Barbara Diamond

*

Homeless shelter evacuated due to sewage spill

A sewage leak at the Alternative Sleeping Location on Laguna Canyon Road caused 150 gallons of sewage to spill into Laguna Canyon Creek at 7:23 a.m. Sunday, according to police records. As a result of the contamination, the ASL residents were evacuated for several hours that day and Main Beach was closed to swimmers. The ASL was reopened Sunday night.

The leak was not noticed for several days, according to Pietig. The leak was due to paper towels and other debris deposited in the toilet system, he stated in an email to the Coastline Pilot.

“The restrooms in the ASL have been equipped with cloth towels and the facility supervisors from the Laguna Relief and Resource Center and the Friendship Shelter have been alerted to make sure that reoccurrences are prevented,” Pietig wrote.