Jeffrey Kubel appointed as new police chief in Temecula

TEMECULA - A longtime veteran of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department has been appointed as the new police chief in Temecula and will start work Thursday, city officials said.

Jeffrey Allen Kubel, a captain and 23-year member of the department, was tapped to succeed Andre O'Hara, who had served as chief since June 2009. Sheriff Stanley Sniff named Kubel because of his combined 11 years of service to the city of Temecula and Temecula Valley, city officials said.

Temecula hires the county sheriff's department for police services, and the sheriff thus appoints the police chief.

Kubel began his career in law enforcement in July, 1990 and has held assignments in the corrections division, as a sheriff's deputy, a sergeant and a lieutenant at the Southwest Riverside County Sheriff's Station. As a resident of the Temecula Valley area, Kubel as a unique community awareness, the new chief said.

''I feel connected with this community and have always been very proud to be a member of the Temecula Police Department,'' Kubel said. ''I'm looking forward to building upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessors and ensuring Temecula remains an exceptional examples for other cities to follow.''

Mayor Mike Naggar praised Kubel.

''Chief Kubel understands the high priority placed on community safety and we welcome him to the city team,'' Naggar said. ''Public safety is the city's top priority representing the largest single portion of the City of Temecula general fund at 48 percent of the city (fiscal year) 2013-14 operating budget.''