CALEXICO — The Calexico police chief’s retirement became effective today, and the search for his replacement officially begins.
Jim Neujahr served in the position since December 2007 and had previously worked at the department since 1994 after transferring in from the Bishop Police Department.
He announced his plans to retire in mid-February, not long after the Calexico Police Officers Association issued a vote of no confidence against him.
Multiple members of the public have lamented his retirement and thanked him for his contributions to the community, particularly with youth sports, at the past couple of council meetings.
Neujahr was a regular fixture at numerous community events such as the annual Farm Worker Appreciation Breakfast, various nonprofit fundraisers, awareness rallies and more.
Calexico police Lt. Gonzalo Gerardo will serve as interim chief.
The municipal code reads that the chief position is under the direction of the city manager.
A pre-selection process includes receipt of applications meeting minimum qualifications for the position and an interview by a panel to narrow the pool, Mayor Maritza Hurtado said. As to who will be on that panel remains to be ironed out.
From there, the city manager will make his recommendation to council who will then vote on the matter.
Hurtado posted a Facebook status recently asking what people thought the best process would be in which to select a new chief.
She advocated searching locally in order to save money for “candidates with proven leadership skills” and also endorsed having the community and police commission take part in the selection.
“I do not believe that the City Council, PD employees, staff or officers should take part in the selection process in order to ensure that the selection be as transparent as possible,” she added.
CPOA leadership has stated that it would like members to be part of the selection process, and former Mayor Daniel Romero came to the Feb. 19 council meeting to voice his opinion on the matter.
“Give me a break,” Romero said. “If this is permitted by the council, then the next city manager should be decided by staff or by the directors, and the council should be left out.”
Community blog Calecia.com’s Facebook page has taken a satirical approach to the subject, listing its own requirements for the new chief every few days. The first asks that the next chief “must first walk the barrio streets at night as a civilian to understand firsthand Calecia life.”
Other suggestions included requiring the chief to spend at least one night sleeping in a city park and marathon watching shows such as “Southland.”
Maritza said advertisements for the position in local press, as well as in San Diego and Yuma, began Thursday and anticipates some results from the search to materialize by the end of March.
Neujahr has said that after 32 years in law enforcement there will be some adjusting to do but he looks forward to redirecting his focus to personal projects.
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
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