Five move up in rank

BURBANK — The Burbank Police Department announced the promotion of five officers Wednesday.

The promotions follow the Aug. 1 appointment of new Police Chief Tim Stehr. Bill Taylor, a former captain, has been promoted to deputy chief, and former Lt. Pat Lynch will now assume the role of captain.

Other recent promotions include: Darin Ryburn to lieutenant; Tony DeSantis to sergeant; and John Pfrommer to detective.

Hired by the department 23 years ago, Taylor has experienced all walks of professional police life. In 1982, he broke in as a patrolman, eventually leading to posts including patrol sergeant and media relations sergeant on his way to becoming deputy chief.

Taylor attributes his success to lessons he learned from superiors.

“People like Chief Stehr taught me how to become a leader,” he said. “They insisted on getting an education to get ahead.”

Taylor recently was awarded a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Northridge and is weeks away from an advanced degree from Command College, a leadership training institute.

Lynch joined the Police Department in 1980, often in the front row for some of the department’s most defining moments.

In 1993, Lynch established the department’s first SWAT team, because, as he put it, “we needed one.”

Under Stehr’s leadership, Lynch was part of a nationwide investigation after Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka was fatally shot and another officer, Greg Campbell, was wounded from gang violence, Lynch said.

The resulting 18-month investigation led to the arrest of 302 people — including 99 under federal indictment — hundreds of pounds of drugs and 119 guns, Lynch said.

Lynch and the Burbank Police Department received several local and national awards for their efforts.

Now, Lynch sits poised to take over an office in which he hopes to continue to build upon a work ethic that has served him well during his 27-year career.

“I’m just trying to take it one step at a time, hoping everything will pay off,” Lynch said.