It may sound like a round of “Musical Police Chiefs.” but retired Pacific Grove Police Chief Darius Engles said his new assignment as Interim Police Chief of King City was part of the plan made when he stepped into the position of captain with that troubled police force in December, 2015.

Chief Darius Engles

Retired Seaside Police Chief Tony Sollecito, who was Interim Chief there, was running out of hours on his contract. Engles was brought in to help bring some normalcy to the King City department, and now Sollecito has stepped down, as expected. Chief Engles doesn’t expect to be there long as King City is in active recruitment for a permanent chief. “It’s consistent with the process,” said Engles, who said he expected this turn of events.

King City has been in active recruitment for a permanent chief and held oral interviews about two weeks ago. When the permanent chief is named, Interim Chief Engles will go back to the captain position, presumably until that position, too, is filled.