‘A good day for Livingston.’ Permanent city police chief hired, after weeks of uncertainty

Two weeks after a heated debate left the Livingston City Council divided and residents wondering if the town would be left without a chief to lead its police department come September, city leaders came to a consensus Tuesday night.

The City Council voted 3-1 to approve the city manager’s appointment of Charles Hale as police chief and ratify his employment agreement. Councilmember Maria Soto cast the dissenting vote and Councilmember Gagandeep Kang abstained.

Hale already served the better part of a year as Livingston’s interim police chief while employed at the Merced County Sheriff’s Office. Multiple city officials attested Tuesday to the improvements he’s made in the department during that time.

Attendees gathered in the Council Chambers erupted in applause and cheers after Hale’s contract was approved, effectively ending two weeks of worry among residents fearful for Livingston’s public safety as the police department hung in limbo without a plan for a new chief. Some boos could be heard among the acclamation, too.

“I think it’s a good day for Livingston,” Mayor Juan Aguilar said after casting his vote in support for the new chief.

Aguilar told the Sun-Star that he expects Hale will be sworn in as chief in early September, during which time he will no longer be employed by the Sheriff’s Office.

The mayor noted it’s a risk for Hale to jump from his long time role with the Sheriff’s Office to help restore stability to the police department. Still, the mayor says Hale is aware of the city’s needs and appears to want to help the Livingston community.

“That shows commitment and care for the city, for the community,” Aguilar said. “To me, it’s the best case scenario.”

Hale’s employment with the city comes with an annual base salary of $160,000. He’s slated to officially start his duties on or before Sept. 12.

Hale has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, most recently serving as a sheriff’s lieutenant with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

City officials, residents laud Hale as boon to Livingston community

Stepping into the permanent police chief role will not come without challenges, however, as the city has grappled with many political controversies in recent years.

Hale began his interim Livingston police chief role last November. The city contracted with the Sheriff’s Office for interim police chief services last year after no other suitable replacement was found following former chief John Markle’s termination.

Markle was abruptly fired by the city just six months into the job and without explanation, inciting outrage and protest among some residents who supported the prior chief.

Markle later filed a claim against Livingston alleging that it fostered a hostile work environment, interfered with his duties as the city’s top cop and unlawfully breached his employment contract.

The controversy is one of many in a series of incidents that have marred local politics and divided the Livingston community for over a year, dividing both residents and city officials.

Last year’s termination of the city’s former city manager also led to outrage and protest among Livingston residents, as community members demanded answers for the firing of the former city officials. No official explanation was ever publicly given by the city, but both former employees have filed claims against the city alleging corruption.

Councilmember Jose Moran released a YouTube video last August where he accused Councilmember Kang and his brother of being the perpetrators behind an alleged voting fraud scheme. Moran claimed that the brothers personally told him that they could guarantee a winning number of votes for him were he to run for city clerk.

Moran later became the sole member of the City Council excluded from a recall campaign aimed at removing every other elected official from office early. The recall effort didn’t gather enough signatures to reach an election.

The long-brewing tensions bubbled over two weeks ago when the Council Chambers erupted in shouting between city and county officials. The disagreement resulted in the City Council failing to renew the interim police chief contract with the county, despite having no alternative plan for obtaining another top cop.

Some residents, city officials and county representatives saw the move as a failure and were left anxious over the future of Livingston’s public safety. One county supervisor called the city a “circus” and called for new leadership.

The meeting’s outcome appeared to push many residents to their breaking point, with some calling for a complete overhaul of city leadership.

“Working through the turmoil through the least year or two years, it’s not easy,” Moran said Tuesday as he reflected on the city’s struggle to obtain — and retain — a police chief.

Tuesday’s outcome, however, appeared to reignite some hope among the community that the city was course correcting.

Livingston City Manager Vanessa Portillo, who has championed Hale’s leadership at prior City Council meetings, said her appointment of the former sheriff’s lieutenant would help restore stability to the Livingston Police Department.

“Mr. Hale, in collaboration with city departments, has coordinated multiple community events, as well as gained the trust and respect of our law enforcement team,” Portillo said. “His service to our community is notable and commendable, and I’m grateful Mr. Hale has decided to continue to lead our police department.”

Livingston’s mayor appeared to concur. “You’ve been on the job since November. You did your interview on the job, you connected with the community. You’ve done a great job,” Aguilar said of Hale, noting the support of residents and law enforcement officers gathered in the chambers.

Former Livingston mayor Gurpal Samra also addressed the City Council Tuesday to voice his support for hiring Hale.

Samra recalled how following the failed vote to extend the Sheriff’s Office contract two weeks earlier, he’d stood in the same place amid high tensions and asked each City Council member what their plan for the police department was now.

No one was able to offer a specific course forward at the time, but it appeared Tuesday’s action proved an acceptable plan to Samra and other residents.

“I didn’t expect you guys to be this quick about it,” Samra said.

Mixed reviews from some city officials, residents

Despite the show of support for the new chief from residents and city officials, some detractors also attended Tuesday’s meeting in an attempt to dissuade city leaders from approving Hale’s employment.

Concerns were largely traced back to Hale’s involvement in the arrest of Ethan Morse in 2014, resulting in Morse being jailed 114 days for a murder he didn’t commit.

Nearly four years later, a jury unanimously agreed that Hale and a detective had committed judicial deception to get a warrant to falsely arrest Morse. A federal civil rights jury awarded him $498,300 in damages.

Resident and local real estate agent Dwight Larks, holding a sign that read “don’t hire crooks,” attended the meeting to voice his opposition to Hale becoming chief.

“I’ve met with him personally and I’ve seen him screaming and raging inside the police department,” Larks said. “If you want that leadership in our town, then that’s on you guys.”

Echoing the qualms of other residents who spoke Tuesday, Larks referenced the judicial deception case and asked the City Council to refrain from approving Hale’s contract.

Although city officials didn’t directly address the case, it was insinuated.

Councilmember Soto read aloud an email she received from a resident with similar concerns. Soto then asked the city manager if there were other qualified candidates for police chief who weren’t brought forward for the Council’s consideration.

“There were no other qualified candidates. We’ve been having this conversation for months now,” Portillo responded. “I’m just very thankful Mr. Hale stepped up and became a qualified candidate for our city.”

Samra also appeared to come to Hale’s defense during his public comment.

“I want to just say that I didn’t know Mr. Hale until he came here,” Samra said. “However, I know the Sheriff’s Office. I don’t think they would have people working there that don’t meet certain standards. I think Mr. Hale meets those standards.”