Some Chula Vista residents lashed out on Tuesday against their city council members who they believe are trying to force their police chief into early retirement.

“I believe it’s politically motivated,” said Bill Turpin, who owns multiple properties in Chula Vista and calls Chief Roxana Kennedy a friend.

“She’s come up through the ranks,” said Turpin. “She’s a female police chief in one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation. She’s done an unbelievable job. There’s nothing she’s done wrong. She should be getting awards,” he added.

Turpin was one of more than a dozen people who planned to speak during the public comment period at Chula Vista City Council on Tuesday night. Also on the speaker list is Maricris Drouaillet, sister of Maya Milliete, a mother who vanished in 2021. Chula Vista Police eventually arrested Maya’s husband for murder. Drouaillet told NBC 7 she had praise for Chief Kennedy for her department’s handling of the case.

Before Tuesday’s city council meeting, several Kennedy-supporters rallied outside city hall, carrying signs and wearing hats that read, Kennedy should stay, and “keep politics out of policing”.

Supporters of Chief Kennedy are rallying outside Chula Vista City Hall, saying her job is on the line for purely political reasons, reports NBC 7’s Allison Ash.

Attorney for Chief Kennedy’s response

City councilmembers were expected to meet in closed session to discuss a letter from Cory Briggs who said he is representing Chief Kennedy. That letter says in part:

“I am writing to request that your agency and all of those under its control preserve in its current form any evidence regarding the allegations that the Chief has been subjected to improper discipline, retaliation, discrimination, and/ or a hostile work environment, including but not limited to adverse actions against her as a subterfuge for the desire of a majority of the City Council to force the Chief into an early retirement and replace her with a Latino.”

NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 were unable to get comments from city council regarding rumors that some members may be trying to force Kennedy out. Mayor John McCann responded to NBC 7’s request for an interview.

McCann said he believes politics is at play. When asked if Kennedy had done anything to warrant her removal he said, “I have not seen anything.” 

He added that he hoped Tuesday night’s closed session meeting would help him “find out exactly what is the hullabaloo.”

City of Chula Vista’s response

The City of Chula Vista provided the following statement in response to the situation Tuesday night:

“The City of Chula Vista is deeply disappointed over the continued misrepresentation of the facts involving its relationship with Police Chief Roxana Kennedy. The City is proud of the advancements in policing that have been made during the Chief’s tenure. While the City is prohibited from sharing information on any individual personnel matter, we can unequivocally state the following facts:

1. The City Manager has never been pressured by any elected official to replace Chief Kennedy for political purposes. To state otherwise is entirely false.
2. Chief Kennedy requested and is currently out on approved personal leave. This was not a City-directed action.
3. The City of Chula Vista has not proactively discussed these matters in public. Reporting on this issue has consisted of untruths, rumors and innuendo generated by other parties, in an apparent effort to attract media attention, create a false narrative and combat factual information.

We will continue to govern our city with integrity and professionalism and adhere to all employment policies to foster a work environment that is respectful, inclusive, and free of discrimination or harassment.”

Chief Roxana Kennedy is on medical leave as her attorney alleges city leaders are trying to force her out following a holiday party, reports NBC 7’s Joe Little.