Tom Gazsi, From Newport Beach Police Explorer to Costa Mesa Police Chief

​Costa Mesa's newly announced police chief began his flirtation with law enforcement as a Newport Beach police explorer in the early 1970s.

A 27-year veteran of NBPD, most recently as a captain, Tom Gazsi was named Costa Mesa's top cop earlier today.

Steve Staveley

​Gazsi replaces Steve Staveley, who was interim chief for a couple months before resigning via a scathing letter. See Chasen Marshall's:

• Costa Mesa Police Chief Resigns with a Letter, Calling City Council "Incompetent" and the City's Fiscal Crisis a Lie

Staveley replaced Christopher Shawkey, who resigned in March. He'd been on paid administrative leave since November, when allegations about his time spent at police headquarters and misuse of a gasoline card surfaced.