Santa Monica police chief proclaims resignation – NBC Los Angeles

Santa Monica Police Division Chief Ramon Batista introduced his intentions to resign.

In a letter submitted to town supervisor’s workplace, Batista shared he plans to step down from his function on the division. He served as Santa Monica’s police chief for almost 4 years and alluded in his resignation letter that doable battle could have led to his resolution.

“As I step apart, I accomplish that recognizing that my almost 40 years of expertise in public security and policing, my deeply held sense of justice, and following not solely the spirit, however the letter of the regulation, look like at odds from calls for from the brand new administration,” one model of Batista’s resignation letter learn.

Following information of the resignation, Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete applauded Batista’s management throughout his time with the division.

“He constructed out issues just like the cameras across the metropolis and the drone system,” the mayor stated. “A criminal offense impression workforce that’s specializing in particular crimes across the metropolis.

Former Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock echoed that sentiment.

“After Could thirty first, 2020, the police division’s morale was at all-time low,” he stated. “The earlier chief had underperformed, to say the least, and I imagine very strongly that Chief Batista got here in, restored belief with the group, and restored belief along with his cops.”

Regardless of Batista’s preliminary resignation letter mentioning the “new administration,” Mayor Negrete stated she was uncertain what the chief meant.

“Don’t know what the chief’s that means was behind it as a result of I haven’t spoken to him about that,” she stated. “However what I do know, in my conversations with the Metropolis Supervisor, is Oliver Chi is aware of and understands that security comes first.”

The resignation is the newest shakeup in Santa Monica’s management.

In Could, Chi was appointed because the Metropolis Supervisor, and the Metropolis Council then fired the Downtown Santa Monica Board in late July.

Batista declined NBC4’s request for an interview.

Santa Monica Deputy Chief Darrick Jacob will function appearing chief whereas the division searches for a everlasting rent. Batista is slated to step down on Oct. 4 after 40 years of expertise in public security.