Chula Vista’s police chief, Roxana Kennedy, has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging a conspiracy to oust her. The lawsuit claims that city leaders secretly plotted to make her workplace conditions so miserable that she would leave, allowing them to replace her with a younger, Latino police chief.

Background

Kennedy, a lifelong Chula Vista police officer, became the city’s first female chief in 2016. She was widely respected in the community and had received praise for her leadership, including her early adoption of law enforcement technology.

However, things took a turn in December when Kennedy attended the Chula Vista Police Officers Association’s holiday party. During a dance contest, Kennedy got up and danced with one of the officers, stuffing dollar bills into his pockets. While the crowd seemed to enjoy the moment, City Councilmember Cesar Fernandez later expressed discomfort with Kennedy’s actions.

The incident apparently sparked a chain of events that led to Kennedy’s departure. On January 20, Kennedy met with City Manager Tiffany Allen, who told her that her conduct at the party had elicited multiple complaints and cast the city in a negative light. Allen demanded that Kennedy prepare a written plan to correct the alleged damage.

Kennedy’s lawsuit claims that this was part of a larger conspiracy to oust her. The lawsuit also mentions an email Kennedy received from a woman named Shawn Shuman, who claimed that Kennedy and her ex-husband had wronged her in the past.

Aftermath

The sudden departure of the popular police chief has thrown City Hall into turmoil. Prominent community members have accused city leaders of managerial malpractice, and City Council meetings have turned tense. Supporters of Kennedy, including San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, have rallied to criticize the city’s conduct.

Original reporting: Voice of San Diego — read the source article.