New Fire Chief For Manhattan Beach On Council Meeting Agenda

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Manhattan Beach may have a new interim fire chief as soon as next Wednesday if City Council approves an agenda item on Tuesday, July 14. That appointment would relieve Manhattan Beach Police Chief Derrick Abell from serving as acting fire chief, a role he assumed when former MB Fire Chief Daryn Drum was terminated on June 19 for comments made during two public forums.

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Tuesday night, council will consider hiring Wolfgang Knabe as interim fire chief. Knabe has 40 years in the fire service, including almost 20 years as chief. He retired from the City of Fullerton in 2018 where he served as chief of the Brea-Fullerton Fire Department. Prior to Brea-Fullerton, he served as fire chief for the San Luis City Fire Department and in multiple roles for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

With the announcement of Drum's termination, the city released audio clips of his remarks. On one clip, Drum is heard repeatedly using the phrase "not taking our foot off their throat" when referring to negotiations with an external vendor. The comments were made on Tuesday, June 16, during a regional public safety officials meeting. Other comments can be heard some 45+ minutes into the interviews on a June 11 podcast episode of "The South Bay Show." "You're one good shooting away from civil unrest," said Drum, "and now it's changed to you're one violent interaction — and the officer oftentimes doesn't control the level of violence that comes with that interaction — the person that they're in contact with is really the one in control. If you comply, there is no violence. If you respond with violence, then the officer has no choice."

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If appointed, Knabe will oversee 31 firefighters and a professional administrative staff that handles a variety of duties, including emergency response and community support services.