Dodgers senior director of security to retire

Wemmer, who joined the Dodgers in April 2011, retired from the Los Angeles Police Department in '08 after a near-40-year career in law enforcement and now will step down from his latest post, effective this Thursday. Former LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Hillmann will take over Wemmer's post for the remainder of the season.

"We want to take this opportunity to thank Rich for his service to the city of Los Angeles and to the Dodgers and to wish him and his family all the best during his retirement," said Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten in a club statement.

"Through his efforts, Rich has helped us maintain the level of security at Dodger Stadium that one would expect at a premier sports and entertainment venue. We also know that our security efforts will be in very good hands with chief Hillmann. The security of Dodger fans is paramount in our thinking, and we will continue to work to provide a safe family-friendly environment for our fans to enjoy Dodger baseball."

Wemmer stepped into the Dodgers position less than a month after the severe assault of Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day 2011. Another incident took place under his watch May 20, when a stadium parking-lot collision led to a beating of a man in his 20s that resulted in the arrest of four men, according to the LAPD.

The club statement did not mention either incident as having to do with Wemmer's retirement, and Wemmer said the decision was family-related.

"I want to thank the Dodgers for the wonderful opportunity to work with the team for the past year," Wemmer said in the team statement. "I have been planning for this day for quite some time, and I am excited at the prospect of being able to spend more time with my wife, children and grandchildren."

Wemmer likely concludes a long and distinguished career that included a position as commanding officer of Rampart and Northeast Patrol Divisions, Central Traffic, Training Division, as well as the Van Nuys, West Los Angeles and Wilshire Area Community Police Stations.

He also served as the officer in charge of the Anti-Terrorist Division's Investigation Unit during the 1984 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles. In addition to those duties, Wemmer served as a law enforcement trainer and received the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training "2010 Excellence in Training Award for Lifetime Achievement."

Hillmann retired in September 2008 as deputy chief of police after 42 years of service with the LAPD. Following retirement, he served as assistant sheriff of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department until May 2010.

Hillmann, too, had nothing but praise for the man he is replacing.

"Rich has done tremendous work to ensure that the Dodgers security department is one of the finest in American sports," Hillmann said in the statement. "I am looking forward to working closely with the Dodger family and the community."