POLICE SARGEANT TO OVERSEE ANIMALS OFFICER GETS TOP JOB AT BURBANK SHELTER.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

BURBANK - The Police Department has hired one of its own to oversee the city's animal shelter, ending more than a year of searching for someone to fill the post.

Sgt. Bruce Speirs, the department's spokesman, will be promoted to lieutenant and will oversee the shelter but will not hold the official title of superintendent.

Instead, the Police Department has split the position. One animal control officer, who has yet to be chosen, will be promoted to a senior position. All officers will report to Speirs.

His position is effective as of Sunday.

``This is new territory for me, but I've covered a lot of territory,'' said Speirs, a 27-year veteran in the department. ``It's going to be fun. I'm an animal lover.''

Before becoming the department's spokesman, Speirs was the chief helicopter pilot and manager of the air-support unit.

The Police Department, which oversees the shelter, conducted intensive searches and interviews for a superintendent, but no winning candidate emerged from that process, said police Capt. Gordon Bowers.

The former superintendent, Fred DeLange, left the Burbank job, which he had held since 1973, more than a year ago to become general manager for the Glendale Humane Society.

Since then, the Burbank shelter had suffered administratively, Bowers had said.

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com