19 Applicants Vying for Police Chief’s Job

Nineteen applicants are under consideration for the job of Torrance police chief, including six current employees of the city’s Police Department.

City officials say they expect a new chief to be named by late September to replace longtime Chief Donald E. Nash, who stepped down in June. The final choice is to be made by City Manager LeRoy J. Jackson. Several City Council members and the Torrance police union have said they hope that the new chief will come from the Police Department’s ranks. Torrance historically has filled the chief’s position from within.

But the council voted in May to open up the search to outside candidates, and the city is using a Sacramento-based recruiting firm to help screen applications. One of the job’s requirements--that an applicant have a state police certificate--has essentially limited the search to California.