Michael Tangney Appointed LBPD Acting Commissioner

City Manager Jack Schnirman announced Friday afternoon that Lt. Michael Tangney will be the Acting Commissioner of the Long Beach Police Department.

According to Schnirman, the appointment will be in effect until a "thorough and thoughtful search and selection process can be completed for a permanent commissioner."

A search and selection committee, consisting of what Schnirman referred to as "subject area experts," will be in charge of finding a permanent commissioner.

"I thank Acting Commissioner Tangney for his shared commitment to providing cost-effective, accountable community-oriented policing to the City of Long Beach," Schnirman said in a statement Friday. "... It is my hope and expectation that the search and selection process shall not exceed 60 days."

Acting Commissioner Tangney told Patch Friday afternoon that he plans on applying for the permanent position.

“I guess I’ll be judged on my performance over the next month," he said.

He said his immediate task is to get control of the department's overtime budget.

"My plans do include reducing the overall costs to the police department while putting more men on the street with any loss of services. So it's a pretty bold agenda," he said, noting that he will add about five or six officers to the patrol force.

Commissioner Thomas Sofield Sr. retired last November and Inspector Lt. Jack Radin served in his position during the interim. Tangney was among five in-house lieutenants who applied for the acting commissioner position. 

"When the new administration came in, they wanted so more active direction and someone to really steward the police department forward," Tangney said.

He said that a search committee is expected to be formed Monday and that the city manager would like the committee to hire a candidate with 45 to 60 days.

A lifelong Long Beach resident, Tangney is a former Long Beach Board of Education trustee and the husband of Darlene Tangney, a sitting board of education trustee who recently ran for the 4th Legislative District seat. February will mark 34 years on the police force for Tangney.

Updated at 6:12 p.m. on 1/6/12.