Milpitas Police Chief Jared Hernandez, a long-time metropolis worker, is now performing metropolis supervisor following the exit of Deanna Santana, who left the place after a dispute with a councilmember over a possible violation of the Brown Act.
“Police Chief Hernandez has devoted his profession to serving Milpitas with integrity, professionalism, and a powerful sense of neighborhood,” mentioned Mayor Carmen Montano in a press release launched Wednesday “His management expertise, collaborative method, and lifelong connection to our Metropolis make him exceptionally nicely suited to information the group throughout this transition interval.”
Hernandez, who was born and raised in Milpitas, has been with the town since 1991 – when he started as a volunteer for the police division at age 15 – and ascended by the ranks till he grew to become police chief 5 years in the past.
Whereas metropolis councils regularly go for long-time authorities directors to fill metropolis supervisor roles, Hernandez mentioned he was able to tackle his new function with the “similar ideas” as his prior function: “superior customer support, collaboration, neighborhood engagement and relationship constructing.” Hernandez managed a few third of the town’s workers as police chief. Even so, Hernandez acknowledged there could be “a studying curve,” however that he would draw on the experience of metropolis workers. “We’ve obtained challenges forward, however we’ll work collaboratively.”
In a quick merchandise taking two minutes, the Metropolis Council voted unanimously to approve the appointment Tuesday night time.
“I stay up for serving the residents of Milpitas, simply in a distinct capability, and I additionally stay up for supporting our metropolis workers, who do incredible work each single day,” mentioned Hernandez.
With the appointment, Hernandez joins a rising listing of appointees who’ve taken on the function as chief government of the town lately.
Santana’s preliminary determination to resign got here in August after an incident involving Councilmember Evelyn Chua, who reportedly practically violated the Brown Act – California’s open assembly legislation – by improperly attempting to schedule a gathering of the Metropolis Council. The scenario led to a disagreement between Santana and Chua, and Santana subsequently mentioned she would resign, together with her final day set for October 31. Although Santana later prolonged her tenure after many on metropolis workers – together with Hernandez – vouched for her publicly, Santana left her place on January 1 of this yr.
Santana was introduced on as interim metropolis supervisor final April, after Ned Thomas resigned from the place that March following an 18-month stint with the town. His predecessor, former Metropolis Supervisor Steve McHarris left in 2023, and later sued the town over alleged misconduct by the present and former mayors. Earlier than McHarris, Metropolis Supervisor Julie Edmonds-Mares resigned in 2019 with little rationalization after lower than two years within the place.
“I’m having hassle holding monitor of who the town supervisor is as a result of there’s a lot turnover,” mentioned Milpitas resident Rob Means at Tuesday’s assembly. “We’ve had plenty of actually, actually good folks come by that function, however they don’t appear to stay round for lengthy, and I’ve but to listen to actually good causes for why they’re shifting on.”
Montano didn’t reply to a number of requests for touch upon the transition or efforts to stabilize the town supervisor’s function.
Later within the assembly, the Metropolis Council took steps in direction of completely filling the town supervisor’s function – setting a wage vary of $320,000-$400,000 for the place. Assistant Metropolis Supervisor Matt Cano mentioned the town hoped to have the place posted inside weeks and stuffed within the coming months. Hernandez introduced that Assistant Chief of Police Frank Morales would take over as police chief throughout Hernandez’s time at Metropolis Corridor.
