Police Chief Cook Sets Retirement for Oct. 1

Westminster Police Chief James Cook, who pioneered an anti-gang program that became a model in law enforcement agencies nationwide, will retire next week.

Cook will step down Oct. 1, said City Manager Don Vestal. Cook previously served as a captain in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

During his 12-year tenure, Cook was the innovator of the target gang program, in which prosecutors and probation, federal and local officials team up to investigate and prosecute crimes.