By Horacio Rentería
On January 5, 2017, Roxana Kennedy became the first woman to lead the police department of Chula Vista Police Department.
At the time, Kennedy assumed responsibility for public safety in a city that now exceeds 275,000 residents and is considered one of the most significant municipalities in San Diego County, California, US.
Kennedy took the oath of office before David Bejarano, a veteran law enforcement officer who previously served as police chief in both San Diego and Chula Vista before retiring.
However, nine years later, and approximately four months before the county’s primary elections scheduled for June 2, 2026, unconfirmed rumors and reports emerged suggesting that “some” city council members — who were neither identified nor quantified — were allegedly planning to request her removal from office.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Attorney Cory Briggs, representing Kennedy, sent a letter to city government officials arguing that attempts to remove her were allegedly linked to a Christmas holiday event organized by the police union on December 13.
The letter described a dance contest during the celebration, where one officer reportedly removed his shirt. According to the defense, Kennedy approached the officer, placed two one-dollar bills in his pockets, bowed, turned around, and returned to her seat. Officials indicated that nothing unusual occurred beyond the context of the social event.
The situation gained attention after Kennedy requested personal leave and following statements attributed to the new City Manager, Tiffany Allen, who replaced former manager Maria Kachadoorian. Reports suggested Allen expressed concern over alleged behavior that may have exceeded professional responsibilities during the mentioned celebration.
A DECADE WITH THE DEPARTMENT
On the evening of Tuesday, February 25, community members addressed the City Council, expressing strong support for Kennedy and praising nearly a decade of leadership within the police department.
Public expressions of recognition, accompanied by applause from much of the audience, became a dominant feature of the meeting.
Local businessman Bill Turín stated that the city of Chula Vista, California, US is nationally recognized for its safety and stability, attributing this reputation in part to what he described as the chief’s effective performance.
Several speakers suggested that the rumors surrounding the controversy could be motivated by political interests rather than administrative concerns.
Kennedy originally took the oath before Bejarano, who retired after a long career in law enforcement leadership in the region.
OFFICIAL POSITION
After hearing comments from approximately ten community members, City Council officials held a private meeting and issued a statement regarding the situation.
“The City of Chula Vista is deeply disappointed by the continued misrepresentation of facts regarding its relationship with Police Chief Roxana Kennedy.”
The statement also emphasized that the city is proud of the progress made in policing during Kennedy’s tenure.
While city regulations restrict the disclosure of personal employment information, officials stated that the city administrator has never been pressured by any elected official to replace Chief Kennedy for political purposes.
“The chief requested and is currently on approved personal leave. This was not an action directed by the City,” the statement read.
“FALSEHOODS, RUMORS AND INSINUATIONS”
The city further stated that it had not proactively discussed these public matters.
Officials issued a strong declaration asserting that information circulating about the issue has consisted of “falsehoods, rumors, and insinuations generated by other parties, apparently in an effort to attract media attention, create a false narrative, and challenge objective information.”
The statement concluded that city authorities would continue governing with integrity and professionalism while complying with employment policies designed to foster a respectful, inclusive workplace free from discrimination and harassment.
It is worth recalling that on November 11, the Southwestern College recognized Kennedy’s work, describing it as an “example of leadership, legacy, and commitment” to the community.