OCEANSIDE — Recently retired Police Chief Frank McCoy was voted in to serve as police chief for two more years by City Council on May 7.
City Manager Steve Jepsen recommended that McCoy stay on to lead the department and mentor his successor.
Following the meeting McCoy said he is humbled and honored the city manager asked him to stay on for two more years.
He said his goals are to focus on crime issues the city faces, and mentor all qualified police management staff to become the next chief.
During the meeting City Council members commended McCoy for improving city safety.
“The decisions made by the police chief are pretty critical on how the city’s moving forward,” Councilman Jack Feller said. “We’re making great strides in the way we’re reducing crime.”
Councilwoman Esther Sanchez also praised McCoy, but cast the one no vote to rehire him, due to the salary increase McCoy will receive.
McCoy is hired back to the full time position at $208,304 a year, plus a 6.5 percent pay increase next year.
The position was advertised as paying $194,000 for a new police chief.
Sanchez said a 4 percent salary increase would be more acceptable, especially when other city staff have endured a pay freeze.
McCoy retired in October and has served as an interim police chief during the search for his replacement. Over the past six months McCoy collected retirement benefits and an hourly wage.
During the search process two Oceanside police captains expressed interest in the position, and were being considered along with other candidates.
McCoy said he recommended all three qualified Oceanside police captains for the position of chief.
During the meeting City Council members did not directly comment on why an in-house or other candidate was not hired, but Councilman Gary Felien said the city manager had to balance input from several advisory teams. His statement led to speculation that not everyone was in agreement on who should fill the position.
Sanchez said there are several highly qualified in-house candidates, and she knows of one in-house candidate who could fill the position.
Mayor Jim Wood said he is happy McCoy is sticking around, and added he is disappointed the backgrounds of some of the top candidates did not check out favorably.
Due to the matter being a personnel issue no details were shared.
Jepsen said his focus is to hire an in-house candidate for chief in two years.
1 comment
Ridiculous a decision couldn’t be made on a new chief so we bring a guy out of retirement and throw a huge raise at him, and another next year. Not a bad pension boost.
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