Escondido taps West Covina police captain as next police chief

After several months without a police chief, Escondido has selected a captain from West Covina Police Department to lead its Police Department, the city announced Friday.

Ken Plunkett has spent more than 27 years in law enforcement, according to the city. His biography with the West Covina indicates he spent a year or two with the Los Angeles Police Department before moving over to the West Covina department — in the city where he was born and raised — in 2000 and working his way up the ranks. As captain, he had command-level responsibility over the patrol and investigative divisions.

Escondido City Manager Sean McGlynn said in a statement that the city is thrilled to welcome Plunkett.

“He is a proven leader with a collaborative and community-focused approach. His extensive experience, strategic mindset, and passion for public service make him the right person to lead our department forward,” McGlynn said.

The department interviewed five candidates. Asked what set Plunkett apart, McGlynn pointed to Plunkett’s work on the West Covina department’s Citizen’s Academy as well as “his track record of involvement with service groups and community events to help build trust, develop partnerships and increase transparency.”

The department has been without a chief since former Chief Ed Varso retired in December, and had rotated three captains — Erik Witholt, Ryan Banks and Kevin Toth (now retired) — into the role of acting chief.

For nearly 20 years, the department has selected a chief from within its ranks. Varso led the department twice, stepping away briefly to lead the Menifee Police Department before returning. His departure was covered by an interim chief. Varso was preceded in the job by former chiefs Craig Carter, who served from 2013 to 2019, and Jim Maher, who served from 2006 to 2012.

The Police Department employs 227 people, including 164 sworn officers, and an annual budget of $61.4 million.

Plunkett is expected to start his new job Sept. 2. His salary will be $290,000.

He has a bachelor’s degree in occupational studies and a master’s degree in emergency management services, earning both from Cal State Long Beach.

According to his biography on the West Covina Police Department website, he also has an associate’s degree in fire science, and was an auxiliary firefighter before moving over to law enforcement in 1998.

After the West Covina native joined his hometown department, he worked in several roles, including in patrol and as a member of the department’s SWAT team.

As Plunkett worked his way up, he served as a field training officer and was tapped as a gang detective and narcotics team corporal. As a lieutenant, he oversaw command of a service area, the field training program and the department’s jail.