

But first, they took a moment to bid farewell to Police Chief Heather Fong, who has worked in the department for 32 years, including the past five as chief. Still wearing her uniform, she stood near the door. "You're stuck here a few more hours, chief," Newsom told her, noting that Gascón wouldn't officially become chief until midnight.

"I'm counting the minutes," Fong interjected, prompting the group to erupt in laughter. Moments later, she was gone.

But the day belonged to Gascón, the 55-year-old former police chief of Mesa, Ariz., and assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. He wasn't yet in uniform, instead wearing a dark suit and tie, when he raised his right hand, repeated after the mayor and was pronounced the city's new chief.

A second swearing-in with more pomp and circumstance is scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 21. Newsom said the quickie, low-profile ceremony was held so Fong could leave.

"She's stayed on many months beyond what we originally communicated," the mayor said.

Afterward, Gascón answered questions from reporters in the lobby of the mayor's office. Newsom said he was confident the new chief would make big changes - and quickly.

"My hope and expectation is he will move with deliberative speed," Newsom said.

Gascón said he's been living in the Marina district since July 27 and had spent some of the time furniture shopping after he discovered that half of his furniture from Mesa didn't fit in the front door.

"I'm out of boxes now," he said, telling reporters he wasn't going anywhere despite the top job at the LAPD unexpectedly opening up. Gascón has long been rumored to want the post.

He then fielded questions on a range of topics, including how seriously marijuana possession will be treated (not very, unless it's related to an open-air drug market, gangs or violence), how he'll get witnesses to crimes to come forward (through officers getting to know residents), and whether he'll take seriously the quality-of-life crimes that plague the Tenderloin (yes, because residents and businesses want it).

Even after Newsom's spokesman whisked the mayor and other officials away, the new chief remained, taking questions in English and Spanish. Later in the day, he announced another news conference for Tuesday to discuss his vision for the department.