BELL GARDENS : City Council Dismisses Police Chief, City Clerk

Two remaining strongholds of the ousted regime at City Hall have been removed from office, completing a wholesale change in power that began six months ago with the recall of four City Council members.

Police Chief William Donohoe and City Clerk Leanna Keltner are both allies of former City Manager Claude Booker, who was fired by the new council at its first meeting in March. The council decided in closed session Monday that Donohoe and Keltner will leave their positions this week.

Donohoe retired in August, 1991, but had been retained on a $9,000-per-month contract. Officer Ed Taylor, a beat patrolman and current president of the Bell Gardens Police Officers’ Assn., was appointed interim chief. He said he will resign as head of the union.