On the Town:

After a career that stretched three decades, former Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr’s Tim Stehr’s watch as the city’s top cop came to an end last month. To show their appreciation for his service to the community, close to 300 people braved the blustery weather and rain to give Stehr a final salute Jan. 20 at the Holiday Inn Burbank Media Center.

Beginning his law enforcement career as a police explorer with the Monrovia Police Department, Stehr came to Burbank in the late 1970s as a police cadet.

Within a short time, he became a police officer and over the years moved up in the ranks from detective to sergeant to lieutenant, where he worked in the Patrol Division and the Detective Bureau, leading the Gang Detail, Persons Detail, Juvenile Detail, Identification Section and Special Weapons Team.

In 2003, he was promoted to patrol captain before moving on, to be named deputy chief in 2006.

The following year, in the wake of the then-chief’s retirement, Stehr took over the reins of the Burbank Police Department.

Last week’s send-off, coordinated by Peggy Peters and emceed by Bob Hope Airport Police Chief Ed Skvarna, included the attendance of Mayor Gary Bric, Vice Mayor Anja Reinke, Councilman Dave Golonski, City Treasurer Donna Anderson, City Clerk Margarita Campos, City Manager Mike Flad and City Atty. Dennis Barlow. Also in attendance were executives and staffers from every city department along with representatives of the Burbank business, entertainment and nonprofit communities.

Other special guests on hand were members of Stehr’s family, including his wife, Barbara, son, Cory, and daughter, Jessica, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, 25 current and retired police chiefs, including two of Stehr’s predecessors, Glen Bell and Tom Hoefel, his successor, Scott LaChasse, numerous members of the Burbank Police Department including Captains Craig Varner, Pat Lynch, Janet Lowers and Armen Dermenjian, and Police Commissioners Claudia Bonis and Nat Rubenfeld.

Also in attendance were Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin and her husband, Burbank Police Lt. Kevin Grandalski, Glendale City Atty. Scott Howard, Airport Commissioners Don Brown and Charlie Lombardo, Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Gary Olson, Louie and Gina Lora, Barbara Howell, Ernie Burger, Gary and Tracy Canfield, Tim and Paula Davis, Lisa Rawlins, Michael Walbrecht, Greg Bowman, Alisa Cunningham, Gino Gaudio, Roger, Chuck, Charlie, Michael and Caroline Cusumano, Mickey DePalo, Helen Wang, Jody Hidey, Theresa Zapata, Erika Hofmann, Gaby Flores, Vic and Sue Georgino, Sunder Ramani, Norma Brolsma, Lezlie Borgese, and Rick Madrid, who serves as the head of security investigations and emergency services at Paramount Pictures.