Calexico Police Chief Michael Bostic will soon be out of a job, just 14 months after he was hired to clean up the city’s ailing police department. The top cop was placed on administrative leave Monday, with his services set to permanently cease as of Dec. 5.
“Mr. Bostic was retained by the City in October of 2014 for service as a Public Safety Expert,” notes the city’s press release. “Despite this limited designation, and perhaps due to the City’s needs, he informally undertook the title of Chief of Police. Unfortunately, though it was no fault of Mr. Bostic’s, his work as Chief of Police was never vetted through the open recruitment process nor approved by the City Council.”
The decision appears to have been less than unified.
“[Acting City Manager Nick] Fenley says he received orders from the council, but I will publicly state that this decision was not shared with the full council,” Councilwoman Maritza Hurtado wrote on Facebook.
Indeed, Bostic’s termination comes at a challenging time for the city and its embattled police department. An investigation into police corruption was launched by the FBI last fall, and 7 officers have already been fired as a result of an internal probe. Meanwhile, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority just voted to cancel the city’s coverage, citing political instability and a high turnover of management positions in particular. Monday’s decision hardly helps the city’s case.
Former Calipatria Police Chief Reggie Gomez has been appointed to the position temporarily. He is also a former Calexico police officer, having spent 20 years with the department.
Read more about Bostic’s termination here.