Joel Grover to leave KCBS

KCBS-TV Channel 2 newsman Joel Grover, best known for his 1997 undercover reports that led to a grading system on local restaurants, has left the station, saying he wants to pursue other opportunities.

“This is purely my choice,” Grover said Wednesday, adding that his contract expires at the end of the year. “CBS made me a very good offer, which would have allowed me to do local and network reports. I really agonized over this decision, but I have a number of great potential opportunities. I just feel that it’s time to move on.”

Grover, who has been at KCBS for six years, said he will take a few months off to relax and decide on his next move.

His series “Behind the Kitchen Door” concluded that many restaurants repeatedly failed inspections by the Los Angeles County Department of Health yet remained open. The reports used hidden camera footage to expose numerous health code violations, rodent and insect infestations and improper food handling. The series resulted in huge ratings for the station.

Grover said he is also proud of other investigative reports he did but acknowledged that that one stands out.

“I know I’ll be seeing letter grades in restaurants as long as I live,” he said. “I hope I can top that series.”

-- Greg Braxton