Ivan Minsal received accolades from colleagues, elected officials and the community at his final appearance before the Crescent City Council as police chief Monday. Photo: Jessica Cejnar

Ivan Minsal received a standing ovation at his last appearance in an official capacity before the Crescent City Council on Monday.

Minsal, who retired as the community’s police chief after more than four years, thanked Councilors, staff and Crescent City and Del Norte County residents for allowing him to serve.

“At times it’s been challenging; at times it’s been magnificent,” he said. “You taught me so much about living in a community. My wife and I both learned about new cultures, we learned about history.”

Minsal started out in law enforcement as an Explorer with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1969. His first job was as a security guard at a Broadway department store before joining the LAPD academy in 1981.

He served with the LAPD until he retired in 2015. According to City Manager Eric Wier, this included surveying the 2009 Station Fire in the Los Angeles area from a helicopter. Wier said Minsal was assisting the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Services “on the fire side.”

Minsal joined the Crescent City Police Department about 48 hours after retiring from the LAPD, Wier said. Since then he has volunteered his time at numerous community events, Wier said.

“Chief Minsal brought on many police officers during his time,” Wier said. “Now the department is fully staffed, or at least we were upon his retirement date.”

During the ceremony, in addition to receiving recognition from State Sen. Mike McGuire, Minsal received a proclamation and accolades from the Crescent City Council.

“You will be missed,” said Councilor Isaiah Wright. “The very first thing you taught me as a 31-year-old man (was) what right-of-way meant. I had no idea what that meant. It literally means the guy to the right of you gets to go before you if you meet at the same time.”

Councilor Alex Fallman said he appreciated that as well as being chief of police, Minsal became part of the community, serving on several nonprofit boards.

Crescent City Mayor Blake Inscore said he too appreciates Minsal’s efforts to connect with the community outside his role as police chief.

“I wish the very best for you and Laurie,” Inscore said, including Minsal’s wife. “I hope you guys can see it within your future to stay here a little while.”

In his last message to the community as its police chief, Minsal thanked his colleagues both in the department and within the city. He also thanked former Crescent City Fire Chief Steve Wakefield, who died following a series of strokes earlier this year, and current fire chief Bill Gillespie.

Now that he’s retiring, Minsal said, he plans to see something of the community he’s policed for more than four years.

“In the 4 1/2 years I worked here I’ve seen very little of the community,” he said. “I’m going to go out and enjoy the redwoods, the sea, and everything in between; learn to fish. More importantly I’m going to do things with people I’ve grown to know and become very proud of knowing and very honored in working with. I will always be a member of the community. You will always be in my heart.”

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