Venezia: Gazsi’s motivation to move on becomes clear

When the news hit that Costa Mesa Police Chief Tom Gazsi was retiring and had accepted a job as deputy chief over field operations and emergency management at the Port of Los Angeles, I was happy for him, yet sorry to see him go.

But I get it. The Port of Los Angeles is the big leagues when it comes to law enforcement.

The port district is made up of 7,500 acres and 43 miles of waterfront, and nearly 48% of the nation’s commerce — an estimated $300 billion annually — passes through there. Not to mention it houses 1.8 billion square feet of warehouse space.

The YouTube video “America’s Port” gives a good overview of the vastness of operations, while “Protecting Port and Nation” describes the many law enforcement components within this organization and how they work with cutting-edge technology and agencies like the FBI and Homeland Security to keep the port productive and safe.

After watching both I was in awe of what was in store for Gazsi.

How did this opportunity land on his doorstep?

This past summer he became aware of this new position at the port after being contacted by a head hunter doing a nationwide search. Gazsi was one of 60 law enforcement candidates being considered.

About a month ago, he received what he calls was a “conditional job offer.”

The job was contingent upon him going through a vetting process that included an extensive background check as well as psychological and medical screenings.

Once the vetting process was underway, he alerted Costa Mesa CEO Tom Hatch about his plans to take the job.

Two weeks ago, he got the written offer to start work Dec. 8.

So this was kept very hush-hush — until the official announcement late last month.

After reading the city press release, I couldn’t help but feel there was more to what motivated Gazsi to take this new job and say adios to being chief.

Looking at the interoffice memo of Nov. 25 to his department revealed more as he explained what tipped his decision — the city’s current survivor benefits.

In a nutshell, if something tragic were to happen to him before he retired, his family would receive only survivor benefits, which would be much less than his retirement benefits.

As he approaches 55, this certainly weighed on his mind, he told me.

Over the summer he had conversations with city leaders about renegotiating those benefits. But he says the city was reluctant to increase them.

Increasing his survivor benefits would ultimately trigger increases to all upper city and CMPD management as well — something the city was apparently not willing to do.

Gazi’s new job actually pays less than the one he’s leaving. But he’ll now collect full retirement benefits through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), which he and the cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach paid into during his tenure with both. Couple that with his new salary at the Port of Los Angeles, and he says it’s a net gain for his family.

But was Costa Mesa smart to let him slip through its fingers?

A world-class police agency obviously saw more value in him than the city did.

It’s not surprising that Gazsi, who has steadily risen in his field, would be looking for new challenges at age 54.

I have interviewed him numerous times and found him to be a person with high morals, which is why I’d venture to say he probably hasn’t had the easiest time as this city’s chief.

With all the political posturing and controversy Costa Mesa has seen in the last three years, I imagine the drama alone was getting old for him.

My sense is Gazsi is over Costa Mesa’s crazy.

He’s out of here, just as a new council is seated.

Coincidence or impeccable timing?

And what does it say about this city’s retention of qualified personnel? Gazsi was a senior department head, and after just three years he’s leaving.

No doubt he’ll be a tough act to follow.

It’s now up to Hatch to find a replacement chief.

And what about the much-publicized, ongoing lawsuit initiated by Mayor Steve Mensinger and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer against the Costa Mesa Police Officers Assn, which they accuse of harassing them?

Nothing screams we’re a great city to work for like suing the union that represents your cops.

BARBARA VENEZIA, whose column appears Fridays, lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at [email protected].