Santa Monica police chief to step down

Santa Monica Police Chief Tim Jackman said he plans to retire at the end of the year but remain on the job as interim chief until his successor is named, probably in March.

Jackman, 52, was appointed chief of the Santa Monica Police Department in December 2006.

He replaced James T. Butts, who retired after 15 years with the department to oversee security at Los Angeles World Airports. Butts is now mayor of Inglewood.

A former Marine, Jackman holds an executive master's of business administration from UC Irvine. He spent nearly 24 years with the Long Beach Police Department before taking the Santa Monica post.

City Manager Rod Gould praised Jackman for improving systems, staffing and strategies. Jackman established a community policing model that helped reduce crime and gang violence.

Among other accomplishments, Jackman oversaw the creation of a crime mapping system that allowed the public to see when and where crimes have occurred on an interactive map.

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--Martha Groves

Photo: Timothy Jackman in 2006. Photo: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times.