Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/kevin-baker/)
Westminster’s police chief, Ralph Ornelas, is on administrative leave pending the results of an outside investigation into “possible policy violations,” according to city officials.
The nation’s highest court decided April 16 it would not review the case, rejecting a petition by Westminster to appeal the 2014 decision by a federal court jury that awarded $3.4 million in damages plus attorney fees to Westminster Police Department officers Jose Flores, Ryan Reyes and Brian Perez.
Last month, hours before city hall closed for the holidays on Dec. 22, the city of Westminster released an explosive complaint written by its former police chief, Kevin Baker.
The city of Westminster must make public a legal claim against the city filed by former Police Chief Kevin Baker, according to a ruling issued late Wednesday afternoon by Judge Walter Schwarm, in response to a Voice of OC lawsuit.
Following the abrupt retirement and a settlement with its previous police chief, the city of Westminster has selected a new chief of police from outside its department, retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Commander Ralph Ornelas.
Orange County District Attorney’s Office is making inquiries into allegations of what is essentially an attempted bribe by Westminster Mayor Tri Ta to keep Councilwoman Margie Rice, his opponent in the November election, from running against him, according to a lawyer who is suing the city.
Westminster has refused to release a claim against the city filed by former police chief Kevin Baker, who alleged he was retaliated against by Councilwoman Margie Rice for being a whistleblower.
Chief Kevin Baker retired quietly on May 1 after being out for more than six months on a stress leave, according to assistant city manager Chet Simmons.
Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker has been out on medical leave for several months and is being paid a full salary. One council member has described Baker’s absence as a “stress leave.”
Council members voted Thursday night to indemnify three former police chiefs and current chief Kevin Baker for $2.1 million in punitive damages leveled against them as part of a 2011 federal lawsuit.