Costa Mesa picks department veteran to be its new police chief
Rob Sharpnack, left, is congratulated in 2013 after being promoted to captain in the Costa Mesa Police Department. On Wednesday, Sharpnack was promoted to chief.
A 22-year veteran and current captain in the Costa Mesa Police Department will take over as its next chief, city officials announced Wednesday.
Rob Sharpnack, who briefly led the department after former Chief Tom Gazsi’s retirement in late November, will take over permanently starting June 28.
Sharpnack joined the department in 1993 as a custody officer. He became a full-fledged police officer the next year and rose through the ranks, eventually being promoted to captain in 2013, according to the city.
Costa Mesa Mayor Steve Mensinger said promoting from within is a sign of strength for the department.
“Rob is quiet, but Rob is very, very astute and tough,” Mensinger said. “And I think most importantly he understands the department because he grew up in the department.”
The soon-to-be chief, who is married and has two children, will earn a base salary of $196,860, according to the city. He is a graduate of Vanguard University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Sharpnack takes over for interim Chief Ron Lowenberg, who was appointed in February while city officials searched for Gazsi’s replacement.
Gazsi retired from Costa Mesa and took a job as deputy chief for the Los Angeles Port Police.
Sharpnack led the Costa Mesa department for more than two months between Gazsi’s and Lowenberg’s terms.
City Chief Executive Tom Hatch, who had the final say on Sharpnack’s promotion, praised him as a “man of integrity.”
“Rob has been a valuable member of the Police Department and the city organization for many years,” Hatch said in a statement. “His commitment to providing outstanding police services in an efficient and effective manner is exemplary.”
During his brief stint as acting chief, Sharpnack made headlines by issuing a joint statement with Hatch apologizing to three councilmen who have feuded with the department’s police union.
Two private investigators allegedly employed by a law firm retained by the Costa Mesa Police Assn. are facing criminal charges related to allegations of tracking and surveilling Mensinger and council members Jim Righeimer and Gary Monahan.
Prosecutors have not accused the police association of complicity, but court documents detail emails in which some officers hoped to find dirt on the three councilmen.
In their statement, Sharpnack and Hatch called the situation “unacceptable” and vowed to investigate the conduct of any officers who may have been involved.
Mensinger said he took the apology as a sign of leadership.
“I think it was perceived throughout the city as a very positive response from both the CEO and the chief for a very dark event,” he said.
A representative of the police association was not immediately available to comment Wednesday.