New Guidelines for Firing Police Chief OKd
The South Pasadena City Council unanimously approved a new policy for disciplining or firing its police chief even as a former police reserve officer challenged the elected body to publicly voice support for embattled Thomas Mahoney.
Mahoney, 49, has been on sick leave and then paid administrative leave since August after two scandals involving the Police Department became public and the city began a probe of the department.
City Manager Sean Joyce told the council Wednesday that the policy would apply to anyone holding the position of police chief, including Mahoney. Joyce, who has the power to fire Mahoney, said the new policy is required by state law and lays out how a police chief can appeal the city manager’s decision.
But Thomas Biesek, a former South Pasadena reserve officer, said the policy was “unfair†in that the city manager is able to decide on the hearing officer who reviews their decision. Biesek voiced support for Mahoney and questioned council members’ commitment to the chief.
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