Something seems fishy in the City of Imperial. Now some residents are determined to get to the bottom of it.
City of Imperial resident Patricia Thompson wants an answer. How can a city that’s been called the safest city in California by national organizations be firing its police chief?
“I’m concerned that we have the safest city in California and we have a new city manager who comes to us with a cloud over his head, and yet we are in a position to fire a tenured, long-term police chief with what appears to be no cause of action, and that, as a member of this community, concerns me,” Thompson said.
Chief Miguel Colon has been put on administrative leave by the city manager, according to Colon’s attorney Bradley Gage. Thompson questions the manager’s decision and his background.
“It concerns me. What truly is the issue that would cause a successful chief of police to be fired,” Thompson said.
Here’s one possible reason: Colon and the Imperial Police Department were recently sued by a police detective who says she was sexually assaulted by a Border Patrol agent. The department and Chief Colon failed to file her sexual assault claim, the detective says, while also harassing her for her sexual orientation and actively interfering with the case. In 2014, the Imperial Police Association also issued a vote of ‘No Confidence’ in Chief Colon.
Colon’s attorney says he believes he has been targeted because of his national origin. A discrimination complaint has been filed.