Good to Go

CalPERS clears Seaside's Police Chief's number-two man.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The top two temp cops in the Seaside Police Department have been under a lot of scrutiny lately: first with questions over their vetting, and then with a query into SSPD Deputy Executive Officer Don MacQuarrie's qualification to work after receiving disability retirement benefits last spring.

Both issues have been cleared up, officials say. The California Public Employees' Retirement System has confirmed MacQuarrie's green light, Willis says: "They have no problem with Don working down here with his duty as described."

MacQuarrie, who serves as Interim Chief Stephen Willis' right-hand man, filed a disability retirement claim in Sausalito in April. The benefits indicate he was physically unable to continue as Sausalito police captain. But only a few months later, MacQuarrie started work as interim deputy chief in Seaside, a title former Seaside chief Tony Sollectio described as virtually identical to that of a captain.

The city has since changed MacQuarrie's title to "interim deputy executive director," clarifying that he only does administrative work, rather than that of a sworn officer.

"[CalPERS] confirmed that Don MacQuarrie's temporary employment with the City of Seaside is in conformance with the government code and his duties are not in conflict with his industrial disability retirement," states Personnel Services Manager Roberta Greathouse in an email.

The circumstances surrounding the temporary suspensions of Chief Steve Cercone and three officers remain unclear, as the city waits for the findings of two internal investigations.