Acting Hermosa Beach Police Chief Milton McKinnon will retire Dec. 29, the city announced Thursday, Dec. 12.
McKinnon took over the role as top cop in September 2018, after former Chief Sharon Papa went on medical leave because of eye cancer; Papa ultimately retired Oct. 1.
Michael McCrary, who served as Hermosa Beach’s interim chief in 2013, will take up the temporary role again while the city recruits for a permanent successor, City Manager Suja Lowenthal said in a statement.
McCrary — with the consulting firm McCrary and Associates — has performed organizational analysis for more than 200 public and private companies, including the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department in 2017.
McCrary has served as police chief in Los Alamitos, Signal Hill and Wheatland.
McKinnon, for his part, said he was proud of the department’s work, but that it’s been challenging serving as both acting chief and captain.
“My family has had much less of me during this time, so retiring now will give me more time with them,” he said. “I wish all with the department and the city the best as they move forward.”
McKinnon, a 28-year law enforcement veteran, began his career at the Culver City Police Department in 1992 and rose to the rank of lieutenant before joining the Hermosa Beach Police Department as captain in 2015.
Since then, he has increased training in investigative approaches for detectives, as well as internal affairs skills for supervisors and watch commanders, according to the statement.
McKinnon also increased community outreach by expanding the Neighborhood Watch program, Coffee with a Cop and the department’s Safety Fair.
“He’s done a great job of building relationships with people in the community, and that is incredibly important in a city the size of Hermosa Beach,” said Mayor Mary Campbell. “We will miss him but understand he needs to do what is best for him and his family.”
