Police Chief Steps Down Early by Taking Sick Leave

Torrance officials announced Wednesday that Donald E. Nash will step down Saturday as police chief but will remain on leave until his long-planned retirement early next year. Nash, 66, is on leave, after coronary problems last month. He will continue to collect his full salary of about $133,000 while he takes industrial injury leave and accrued sick time and vacation time, city officials said. After his retirement date of Feb. 10, 1992, he will earn $99,870 a year. City Manager LeRoy J. Jackson said he is appointing Deputy Chief Jim Popp as acting chief and that a new chief may be hired as early as September.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is investigating Nash for his apparent underpayment of sales tax on a classic 1957 Ford Thunderbird he bought two years ago. Deputy Dist. Atty. Reid Rose said Wednesday that Nash’s stepping down is “not affecting what we do on this case, one way or another.”