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Dozens urge Chula Vista council to back Police Chief Roxanna Kennedy before closed-session litigation discussion
Summary
Dozens of residents, clergy and civic leaders urged the Chula Vista City Council to support Police Chief Roxanna Kennedy as the council prepared to meet in closed session on anticipated litigation; the city attorney said the closed session concerns a claim by the chief's attorney and that personnel discipline is the city manager's authority.
Dozens of residents, faith leaders and local officials urged the Chula Vista City Council on the evening of the meeting to stand with Police Chief Roxanna Kennedy as the council went into closed session to consult with counsel about anticipated litigation.
The public comment period on item 5.2 drew repeated appeals to the council to consider Kennedy's decades of service, her role in community programs and the potential effect on department morale if leadership were changed. "Keep our chief Kennedy," one speaker implored, and several others described Kennedy's work on homelessness outreach, de-escalation training and the department's drone first-responder program.
The comments came after the mayor announced two closed-session items, including an existing litigation matter, Chula Vista v. Slade Fisher, and item 5.2: a received claim and anticipated litigation made by attorney Corey Briggs on behalf of Chief Roxanna Kennedy. The city attorney told the council and the public that item 5.2 is "a conference with legal counsel anticipated litigation" under Government Code section 54956.9 and that the written communication forming the claim is available in the city clerk's office.
The city attorney also clarified limits on the council's role: "The council will not be discussing and may not discuss the discipline or removal of the chief of police under the city's charter. The city manager has a sole authority to appoint [and] discipline department heads, which includes the police chief," the attorney said, framing the closed session as a legal consultation rather than a personnel determination by the council.
Speakers who supported Kennedy emphasized the chief's long record of public safety work and community engagement. "She has been an amazing role model in our community," said Bishop Art Hodges, who noted faith leaders had been asked to pray for a fair resolution. Several residents recounted personal interactions in which Kennedy and the department provided support during crises; Mary Chris Jerlay said Chief Kennedy "came to us... she sat in our living room" after her family's traumatic incident and "showed compassion."
A smaller set of comments addressed other civic topics. Joseph Raso urged the council to change a procedural rule that he said requires a majority of council members to agree before an item may appear on the agenda; he proposed allowing a single council member to place an item on a future agenda if a motion receives a second.
No formal motions or votes took place during the public-comment portion on 5.2. After public testimony and the city attorney's clarification, Mayor McCann thanked speakers for coming and recessed the public meeting to reconvene in closed session to consult with legal counsel about the announced items. The council listed March 3 as the next dais meeting date.
The city provided the public with copies of the written communication the council would discuss in closed session, and the city attorney directed members to that record for further details. The council did not announce any personnel action before adjourning to closed session.
