What is Modesto police chief's legacy?

Roy Wasden arrived in Modesto nearly nine years ago with a mandate: Clean up a Police Department that had been tainted by an illegal gun sale.

Within weeks, the new chief's hands were full with an even bigger scandal, the unintended shooting of 11-year-old Alberto Sepulveda during a drug raid in the child's Highway Village home.

More than two years later, Wasden led the hunt for Laci Peterson, while the nation's media followed his officers' every move.

His hands remained full even after the spotlight shifted, especially when a hip-hop- inspired melee downtown caught patrol officers off guard in 2007, leading to claims that were full of racial undertones and a hard look at downtown security.

The chief, a religious man who holds a high position in the Mormon church, sometimes seemed as interested in legislation as crime fighting, particularly when he spearheaded efforts to ban Dumpster diving and dancing in downtown venues and to increase penalties for adults who let minors drink alcohol.

Now, Wasden is poised to leave crime fighting, so he can take over as Turlock's city manager by July 1. He said he planned to retire from the Police Department, but jumped at an unexpected opportunity and hopes to leave a legacy of community service in both cities.

"I thought I would never be selected, because I'm a police chief, not a city manager," Wasden said. "I went through the process, and the more I looked at it, the more intriguing it was."

The surprise move brought accolades in Turlock and best wishes in Modesto, even

though officials now must search for a new top cop.

People who have worked with the chief praised his passion for reaching out to community groups, noting Wasden learned Spanish so he could make inroads with Modesto's Latino residents.

But Wasden's focus on community policing has prompted some rank-and-file officers to question his priorities. And Wasden has been known to have a thin skin, taking umbrage when he or his department is criticized. Overall, he is viewed as a good steward of public resources.

"We've had ups and downs," said Modesto Mayor Jim Ridenour. "But I think he did a good job."

512 employees await

Wasden, 55, is in charge of Modesto's largest and most influential department. With a budget of nearly $58 million for the budget year that ends June 30, the Police Department and its 254 sworn officers received nearly 48 percent of the city's $122 million general fund.

He will take over a city that has 512 employees and a $35 million general fund budget.

Wasden's salary, $170,363 in Modesto, is expected to grow, although his contract with Turlock has not been settled. His duties will grow, too, as Wasden will be in charge of everything from building and zoning to trash collection and park maintenance to policing.

City managers usually work their way up from the finance or public works departments, said former Modesto City Manager George Britton, but it is not unheard of for a police chief to end up in the executive suite.

Wasden has plenty of experience working with lawmakers, government agencies and community groups. His style drew mixed reactions within the department, including some complaints from those who believed the chief put policy and procedure ahead of street-level crime fighting.

"Police departments always have a diverse group of people," Britton said. "He had his absolute supporters, and he certainly had his detractors."

Some observers have wondered if Wasden's strict moral code influences his decisions, suggesting that it can be hard to approach him with information he may not want to hear.